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.
Habitat
Grows in moist prairies, streamside meadows, and lake margins across northern North America.
Diet
Grazed by deer and elk; provides nesting material for ground-nesting birds.
How common
Uncommon
Recent Sweetgrass sightings near you
Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.
Spot a Sweetgrass? Identify it instantly.
Point Huck at any plant or animal and get an instant ID, rarity, and field notes — building your personal nature collection as you go.
Get Huck — free