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Planting
Days to maturity
Seasonal yields
Sow indoors · Direct sow · Transplant outdoors
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Plant · P-982
Sweetgrass
Anthoxanthum nitens
Sweetgrass is a low, spreading perennial grass whose leaves carry a sweet, vanilla-like scent that intensifies as they dry, traditionally braided or burned as incense and woven into baskets. The essential oil flavors vodka and confections, and the aromatic dried leaves double as a moth-deterrent stuffing for pillows and stored clothing. Its running roots spread aggressively and help stabilize damp banks.
Record at a glance
Growing profile
- Sun
- Full Sun · Partial Sun
- USDA zone
- USDA 4–8
- Soil
- Sand · Loam · Clay
- Moisture
- Dry · Moist · Wet
Vertical layer
Herbaceous- Soil pH
- 5.7–7.4
- Plant type
- Grass
- Mature height
- 12–24 in
- Mature spread
- 24 in
- Plant spacing
- 15–24 in
- Root type
- Rhizome
- Spread pattern
- Root
Keep exploring
Similar plants
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Adzuki Bean
Vigna angularis (Willd.) Ohwi & H.Ohashi
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Herbaceous · USDA 3–11
Agrimony
Agrimonia eupatoria
Agrimony is a slender herbaceous perennial of sunny, disturbed ground across Europe and western Asia, grown mainly for the tannin-rich leaves…
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Alfalfa
Medicago sativa
Alfalfa is a deep-rooted perennial legume grown worldwide as one of the richest forage crops available, its taproot running six metres or…
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Alsike Clover
Trifolium hybridum
Alsike Clover fixes nitrogen in wet, acid ground too cold and heavy for red clover to thrive in, and its flowers keep bees working all season…
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Amaranth Greens
Amaranthus tricolor
Amaranth greens are one of the few leafy vegetables actually built for peak summer heat rather than one that just tolerates it - sown once…
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Angelica
Angelica archangelica
Angelica is a very large, short-lived umbellifer grown for its candied stem and aromatic root - the thick young stalks are peeled and boiled…
Herbaceous · USDA 5–7
The deeper layer
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- Primary
- Locked ecological function
- Secondary
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- Byproduct
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Behind the record
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