Sweetgrass is a fragrant grass sacred to many Indigenous peoples of North America, used for centuries in basketry, smudging ceremonies, and medicine. Its long, flat leaves contain coumarin compounds that give off a sweet vanilla-like scent when dried. Found across northern North America and circumboreal regions, it grows in moist meadows and prairie wetlands. Sweetgrass populations have declined in many areas due to habitat loss and overharvesting.
Best time to see a Sweetgrass
The best time to see a Sweetgrass is April–May, when about 61% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 429 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Sweetgrass? What plant is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
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