Identification of Sweetgrass

Habitat

• Sweetgrass occurs along streams, creeks and other wetland areas. The plant also grows in cool canyonlands and shaded meadows. The grass does have the ability to become moderately invasive. Despite its somewhat prolific growth, sweetgrass has been overcollected in the wild which has placed the plant in danger. The invasion and eradication of its natural habitat also threatens the grass. Sweetgrass usually depends on propagation through its spreading root system. It produces seeds sporadically and the seed's viability averages only 25 to 30 percent, the U.S. Department of Agriculture states.

Appearance

• In the spring, hollow stems, emerge from the plant's dead foliage of the previous year. The plant's straplike leaves appear flat and measure 4 to 12 inches in length. From May to July, the sweetgrass plant begins to flower. It produces spikelet flower clusters that measure up to 3 1/2 inches in length. Each plant has both male and female flowers. The plant has fine, white hairs on its stems and the flowerhead cluster's margins. The seed heads take on a bronze coloration. The plant's fine root system forms a dense sod, which can help control soil erosion.

Fragrance

• Often called vanilla grass, sweetgrass has a distinctively strong scent that resembles the odor of vanilla. A natural, anticoagulant known as coumarin produces the aroma. All parts of sweetgrass sport fragrance: the leaves, stems, and flower heads. The plant has been widely used in perfume manufacturing. Native American women would weave the grass's leaves into their hair and use it to make shampoo. The Native Americans also gathered the grass to use like incense. The Paiute would weave the plant's fragrant stems with willow branches to make cradleboards to carry their infants. Arapaho and Mandan used the grass's long leaves to make baskets.

Importance

• Sweetgrass holds an esteemed place in Native American religious ceremonies and beliefs. The smoke produced by burning the grass also exhibits the same strong smell. Numerous tribes such as the Dakota, Omaha, Winnebago, Kiowa, Lakota, Blackfeet, Cheyenne and Pawnee use sweetgrass during religious rites. Native Americans believe the sweet-smelling smoke helps carry their prayers to the Great Spirit, states the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Harvested and dried sweetgrass can maintain its strong odor.