Posted by
ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Feb 10, 2018 2:49 PM concerning plant:
About 2005 I bought a plant in a small pot sent by mail from Limerock Ornamental Grasses, Inc. that once existed in Port Matilda, PA. I grew it for the first year in a bigger pot to have it grow faster to a larger size. I planted it way back in the backyard border. It became a small patch as this grass spreads by rhizomes and is not a clump. It did fine for a number of years in that moist area. However, it became too shady in that area and I moved it into a big pot for several years. I did not replant it in the ground because I did not have a place of really constantly moist soil in full sun to move it into. Furthermore, it is a low plant that can't compete with some of my taller plants around. It is a pretty little plant with flat, bright green leaves and small grass flowers. I moved to the Reading, PA area in late 2022, bringing the big pot with me, and I planted my Sweetgrass in spring 2023 into a rain garden that I created in the backyard. As others have commented, it is used by Native Americans for burning like incense after they dry it out and make it into a kind of braid. Its native range covers northern Eurasia and most of Canada & Alaska & a little of Greenland down into Virginia, west into the Great Plains and even a little in Arizona.
Posted by
Rhapsody616 (Long Beach Ca USA - Zone 10a) on Sep 30, 2013 1:19 AM concerning plant:
Many Native American and other spiritualists burned Sweetgrass in ceremonies to invite the presence of good spirits after they had burned sage to remove bad spirits and unwanted energy. Sweetgrass is a sort of incense that comes in a braid and is made available at many small metaphysical and apothecary stores. The Dakota name for Sweet Grass is Wachanga, while the Omaha name for it is Pezhezonsta. The Winnebago name for sweet grass is Manuska and the Pawnee call it Kataru. The most common scientific name for sweet grass is Hierochloe odorata. which might also be spelled Hierochloe odorada. You might find useful information under its other scientific names, which include Torresia odorada and Savastana odorada. We who use it to bring blessings and harmony to our home atop a hot Three Kings, Holland, or Swiftlite charcoal just call it Sweetgrass.
Sweetgrass prefers wet clay-like soil called Wet Mesic, where the soil often contains clay and the water drains very slowly. Moisture and water content in the soil is very high over long periods of time. If you live in USDA zones higher than 7B, keep it in the shade.
The seeds have a very low germination rate of 10 percent, so if you are trying to grow them from seed, make sure you buy 50+ seeds. Sweetgrass is mostly grown by root division.
Posted by
Moby (Lincoln, NE) on Sep 25, 2011 9:13 AM concerning plant:
Traditionally used by Native Americans for purification prior to rituals. Frequently braided before drying. May be used for making baskets.
To retain its green color, dry this grass away from direct sunlight.
Posted by
Sharon (Calvert City, KY - Zone 7a) on Sep 25, 2011 4:26 PM concerning plant:
This plant has the sweetest fragrance -- earthy, but with vanilla.
