Poaceae (Hierochloe)

Protocol Information for:

Label_title:
Hierochloe (odorata)

Family Names:

Family Scientific Name:
Poaceae

Family Common Name:
Grass family

Scientific Names:

Genus:
Hierochloe

Species:
odorata

Scientific Classification:

Scientific SubSpecies:

Species Authority:
(L.) Beauv.

Scientific SubAuthority:

Authors:

Susan Winslow

Common Synonym:

Genus:

Species:

Synonym Classification:

Synonym SubSpecies:

Species Authority:

Synonym SubAuthority:

Other Information:

Common Name:
Sweetgrass

Species Code:
HIEODO

Ecotype:
Sweetgrass Hills, Montana

General Distribution:
H. odorata is a circumboreal species that grows in moist prairie grasslands and montane to subalpine meadows, streambanks, and sloughs. In North America it is found from Alaska to Labrador, south to Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, and through the Rocky Mountains to New Mexico; also east to South Dakota, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. Ot os not found in pure stands, but among other grasses, sedges, forbs, and shrubs in mid-successional communities.

Known Invasiveness:

Propagation Goal:
plants

Propagation Method:
seed

Product Type:
Bareroot (field grown), Propagules (seeds, cuttings, poles, etc.)

Stock Type:

Grow Time:
12 Months

Target Specifications:
Height: 30 to 38 cm
Caliper: n/a

Propagation Collection:
Sweetgrass inconsistently produces seeds. Seeds can be collected in late summer.

Propagation Processing/Propagule Characteristics:
Seeds/kg:2,400,000/kg

Pre-Planting Propagule Treatments:
Sweetgrass is a cool season species and its seeds require a period of cold temperatures before they germinate. Late fall, late winter and early spring are the best times to sow seeds.

Growing Area Preparation / Annual Practices for Perennial Crops:
Prepare the field site in advance of planting. Soil should be free of weeds, loose and friable, raked or smoothed to a level, clump-free grade, rolled or packed firmly, and evenly moistened to a depth of 5 to 7.5 cm with a sprinkler or hand held nozzle.

Seeds can be dribbled in rows or broadcast to achieve optimum plant density of 140 plants/m2 after germination. after seeding, it is important to re-roll or pack the site to ensure seed-to-soil contact.

The tiny seeds are easily washed away so immediately follow with a light watering. Keep the area moist until seedling emergence.

Establishment Phase:
Seedlings emerge in 10 to 14 days. Wait until seedlings are well estblished (10 to 15 cm tall) before beginning routine weeding.

Length of Establishment Phase:
1 month

Active Growth Phase:
Sweetgrass prefers moist sites so regularly water the site. Fertilization is not recommended the first year. In subsequent years, apply a low analysis balanced granular fertilizer at a rate of 1.5 kg N per 1000 m2 in early spring.

Length of Active Growth Phase:
3 months

Hardening Phase:
Plan the final harvest of leaves in late summer so there is adequete time for the plants to preare for the onset ofwinter. Failure to allow grass the natural hardening off eventually leads to lower longer term persistence and survival of the stand.

Length of Hardening Phase:
1 to 2 months

Harvesting, Storage and Shipping:
Bareroot stock can be lifted in spring for transplanting into suitable sites. Rhizomes can be harvested anytime for transplants into containers grown in the greenhouse.

Length of Storage:

Guidelines for Outplanting / Performance on Typical Sites:

Other Comments:
Sweet grass is easily propagated by divisions of established nursery stock maintained in 170 ml or 3L containers filled with an all purpose, well drained growing medium.

Plants grow rapidly under greenhouse conditions maintained at 22C day and 16C night. Plants are fertilized weekly with 9N:45P2O5:15K20 at 100 ppm N.
Plants are root tight in 3 months and are moved to outdoor shade house to harden off prior to planting.

References:
Propagation Protocol for Hierochloe odorata: Sweetgrass, Winslow, S. Native Plants Journal Fall 2000, 1:102-103.

Citation:
Winslow, Susan. 2001. Propagation protocol for production of Bareroot (field grown), Propagules (seeds, cuttings, poles, etc.) Hierochloe odorata (L.) Beauv. plants USDA NRCS - Bridger Plant Materials Center Bridger, Montana. In: Native Plant Network. URL: https://NativePlantNetwork.org (accessed 2025/07/16). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.

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