Anybody have Sweet Grass? I would like some to put down by the swamp. I'm in Michigan. Maybe sell plugs to basket makers someday. Maybe make baskets and mats myself. The native people around here guard their sources (I don't blame 'em), I honor and respect that. Sure would like some anyway for myself. I have a little bit of Huron (Iroquois) in me, so maybe you could part with a plug?

-- Susan in Northern LP Michigan (cobwoman@yahoo.com), February 28, 2002

Answers

Susan, I am not sure what sweet grass looks like. We have 40 acres, some of it old marshland with lots of different types of plants and grasses. If you could provide a picture of what it looks like I would check our land in the spring.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), February 28, 2002.

It smells so lovely in incense, I'd like to have some too if anyone would be willing to cut a handfull for me. We're looking to move in a year or two so I don't want to plant any just yet. Susan, I will check my herb catalogs and see if anyone sells plugs.

-- Sherri C in Central Indiana (CeltiaSkye@aol.com), February 28, 2002.

Wow! I checked out this forum when it first started up and had meant to come back sooner and see how it was doing. (I have it bookmarked now!) Herbs, flowers, and plants in general are a passion of mine.

Horizon Herbs sells seed for sweetgrass. This is the most awesome herb seed company I have found yet! They have all the familiar herbs plus a whole lot more. Their website is kind of barebones but the catalog is loaded with everything you need to know. A packet of 50 sweetgrass seeds is $3.95. They also sell plants. Their prices for plants are a little high but they are certified organically grown. One sweetgrass plant in a 4" pot is $10.00. Bulk order 16 plants for $90.00. Then shipping costs - OUCH! But they do list the sweetgrass seeds as "EASY" to germinate.

The latest issue of The Herb Companion lists two sources for the dried plant material if that interests anyone. Pacific Weave and Summer Meadow Basketry

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), March 02, 2002.

I too was looking for sweetgrass; being part Choctaw. I found a place that sells the plants. Check out www.blossomfarm.com They sell all sorts of native herbs as well as medicinal,culinary & ornamentals. Their prices are really good & they pay shipping on orders over $29.00. I didn't look to see if they sold seed, but I figure you could probably collect quite alot of seed from a a few plants. Hope this helps, Blessings, Snowdancer/Kathy

-- Kathy Aldridge (beckoningwinds@yahoo.com), March 04, 2002.

I couldn't find sweet grass at Horizon Herbs. I scrolled through the "S" section three times, and still can't find it. Am I blind, or what?

Tried Google search, found these interesting articles:

http://www.bga.com/~pixel/fun/sweetgrass.html

http://www.batnet.com/rwc-seed/sweetgrass.html

It says that seeds are rarely fertile. Hmmmm.

-- Joy F {in Southern Wisconsin} (CatFlunky@excite.com), March 09, 2002.

Look for the Latin name....Anthoxanthum odoratum

-- Susan in Northern LP Michigan (cobwoman@yahoo.com), March 09, 2002.

I didn't find it under that either, Susan. But in any event, that seems to be "sweet vernal grass", not "sweet grass", which apparently is Hierochloe odorata. Could explain the difference in reports of seed viability!

-- Joy F {in Southern Wisconsin} (CatFlunky@excite.com), March 10, 2002.

Joy, my paper catalog from Horizon Herbs does list Sweetgrass (Heirachloe odorata). You can request a free copy from the main page (I think) of their website. There's a place to leave comments when requesting the catalog - maybe let them know that they need to add sweetgrass to their site. I couldn't find it there either but I am looking right at it in the catalog!

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), March 10, 2002.

According to Native American Ethnobotany, by Daniel Moerman,hierochloe odorata is used by Blackfoot, Memominee, Iroquois, Kiowa, just to name a few, the sweet grass must grow in many regions, it must be pretty adaptable

-- judy rogers (jrogers@eiteljorg.com), June 13, 2002.

heirochloe odorata is for sure the latin name for sweet grass. It grows well in Canada's north country, also. It is sometimes difficult to grow from seed but does extremely well when transplanted. Even one or two stalks with a little root will do well. It does well in any garden plot as long as it is watered. It was not meant to be sold, and those who do so are abusing their right to use it. It is for purifying the spirit - not for decoration. It is also for use by ALL who respect it not just Native Americans. They too are showing disrespect when they sell it to the tourists. Good luck in your quest.

-- blue (blue_xavier@hotmail.com), July 10, 2002.

I have looked for sweet grass growing wild in my area- which is currently Rhode Island and have not found any. I am moving to Missouri and would like to plant some outdoors at my new home. I have just recently recieved "Sweet Grass" as my name, which of course enhances my desire to have the grass growing around me. I found a website that sold the seeds www.alchemy-works.com for a reasonable price. I was thinking of starting from seed rather than buying plugs. I am still unsure which the wiser decsion or if one subspecies is "better" than another. If anybody has any information that may be of help or knows where to get the plugs, I would appreciate the help. Thanks!

-- Jen (sweetgrass9@hotmail.com), August 25, 2002.

Just wanted to say welcome to the state of Missouri! :-)

-- Patty (SycamoreHollow@aol.com), August 25, 2002.

I live in north central Illinois and last year bought sweet grass plants from Richters Herbs out of Goodwood, Ontario- it did great and just harvested my last bunch today- it's suppose to freeze tonight. GOOD LUCK!

-- Judy Gallina (jlj_64@yahoo.com), October 15, 2002.