Hierochloe (odorata)

Susan Winslow Agronomist USDA NRCS - Bridger Plant Materials Center RR 1 Bridger, Montana 59014 Susan.Winslow@mt.usda.gov http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/mtpmc

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Family Scientific Name:	Poaceae
Family Common Name:	Grass family
Scientific Name:	Hierochloe odorata (L.) Beauv.
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.
Propagation Goal:	plants
Propagation Method:	seed
ProductType:	Bareroot (field grown), Propagules (seeds, cuttings, poles, etc.)
Time To Grow:	12 Months
Target Specifications:	Height: 30 to 38 cm<br> Caliper: n/a<br>
Propagule Collection:	Sweetgrass inconsistently produces seeds. Seeds can be collected in late summer.
Propagule Processing:	Seeds/kg:2,400,000/kg
Pre-Planting 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.
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 2024/07/02). US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, National Center for Reforestation, Nurseries, and Genetic Resources.