Grass, Sweetgrass (Hierochloe odorata), packet of 20 seeds

(9 customer reviews)

$4.95

Family: Grass (Poaceae)

Hardy to Zones 3 to 8

(Heirochloe odorata, Anthoxanthum nitens) Creeping perennial to 24 inches, native to colder zones in  Europe, Asia, and in North America from Greenland to Alaska.  Traditionally used in TWM and Native American medicine as a strewing herb and burnable to sanctify body and space.  Plant prefers moist soils in the sun to part shade.   Sow seeds fall or spring by pressing into surface of rich soil and keeping evenly moist until germination.  I found that these took 3 weeks to germinate under lights, kept continually moist.  You can differentiate the sweetgrass from volunteer grasses by the reddish stem of the sweetgrass, even in seedling stage.  I posted a photo of what the seedlings look like.  Regarding the common myth that sweetgrass seeds are sterile, a quote from Samuel Clemens sprouts to mind “The report of my death was an exaggeration.”  Space plants 1 foot apart.

20 seeds per packet, open pollinated, untreated, no gmo’s

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5 out of 5 stars

9 reviews

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What others are saying

  1. Question

    Bea Robbins

    I have 5 packets of seeds in my cart. If the sweet grass seeds will be available this year, then should I wait to order everything at one time in order to save a shipping charge for only 1 packet?

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    • Richo Cech

      Richo Cech

      Hello Bea, Thanks for communicating. Looks like we won’t be having sweetgrass seeds again until next year, so I would recommend completing your order. Richo

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  2. Question

    Christine

    I keep finding conflicting information on whether this is ok for cats to eat. Could you impart your wisdom on this one, Richo? Thanks!

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    • Richo Cech

      Richo Cech

      hi christine, my personal take on it is that sweetgrass (Hierochloe odorata) is ok for cats. I’ve never seen a cat suffer from it, and in fact access to a variety of grasses is good for cats (and dogs). Some other fast-growing grasses you might consider are: oats, annual ryegrass. These are easier than sweetgrass to start from seeds. richo

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    • Shaman Don (verified owner)

      My cats love sweetgrass leaves even more than normal cat grass! Must be sweet or something!

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  3. One person found this helpful
    Kat

    It loves where its at and a favorite of my big black cat

    Kat

    I started from seed 6 years ago.. It is so happy getting filter sun

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  4. Question

    Carolyn

    When do you think you’ll get a resupply of sweet grass seeds in 2022?

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    • Richo Cech

      Richo Cech

      hi carolyn, we’re hoping to harvest these in the fall. stay tuned. sweet vernal grass (anthoxanthum) is a reasonable substitute. r

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  5. Question

    Ashley

    Hello, my seedlings are looking so great! I have 15 little sweet grass babies in 4″ pots. Is it best to keep potting up or should I plant them out? They’re very small still. Also will these die back in winter and come back in spring or stay green all year? Thanks so much!

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    • One person found this helpful
      Richo Cech

      Richo Cech

      Hi Ashley,
      Make sure to keep them potted up until the roots fill the pot, which shouldn’t take too awfully long given that sweetgrass is a pretty vigorous rooter. Then, either pot them individually into gallons and grow that way, or plant them in a clean bed at relatively close spacing and let them develop that way. The only problem I’ve found with planting them out is that it is hard to tell the difference between the sweetgrass from regular old grass that also wants to grow there.
      Richo

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    • Regan

      Mine just won’t germinate and get going!! Two failures now… Any tips? Do they need a freeze before sowing? Covering with a cloche whilst germinating? Help!

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    • One person found this helpful
      Richo Cech

      Richo Cech

      Hi Regan, They are fairly difficult germinators but you can do it. No additional tips beyond the directions, but pay special attention to: a rich mix, pressing into surface, plenty of light and warmth, even watering. You can buy the PLANT from us and then propagate easily off of root runners. richo

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  6. Question

    Kat (verified owner)

    Are these seeds organic?

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    • Richo Cech

      Richo Cech

      No, they are open pollinated and untreated, not certified organic

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    • One person found this helpful

      Matt (verified owner)

      What do the seedlings look like when they sprout? I may have some sprouting but I’m unsure. May have gotten foreign seeds in my soil mix from my composting efforts.Thanks for any help a picture would be awesome as a search on the internet yielded little info pertaining to my specific question.

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    • One person found this helpful
      Richo Cech

      Richo Cech

      hi matt, they look like grass seedlings (monocotyledenous) and the only way to tell them apart from other grasses is that they soon develop a red or reddish stem. I do think there are pictures of them germinating in the gallery above. r

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    • One person found this helpful

      Matt (verified owner)

      So far no luck on germinating these seeds. I put them in a planter and have kept them moist as well as seeded them in seed starter pots. With no luck on the germination so. Got any extra tips or ideas to see if I can get them growing? Thank You.

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    • One person found this helpful
      Richo Cech

      Richo Cech

      Hi Matt, Most people are reporting some success with pressing seed into surface of rich mix and keeping moist. It does take quite a while for germination to occur, so you may want to hold onto those plantings and not discard prematurely. I found these to be fairly reluctant germinators and after I got them going, just propagated by division, which was easy. You could get a plant and divide it.
      Richo

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  7. 2 out of 2 people found this helpful
    Nicole

    Sweet!

    Nicole (verified owner)

    75% germination as of day 20 under lights at room temp, and kept consistently wet. More adorable little spikes appearing daily! Thank you for providing such lively seed, and solid germination advice.

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  8. One person found this helpful
    Julia

    Excellent germination rate!

    Julia (verified owner)

    I’ve gotten an over 50% germination rate with these sweetgrass seeds – I’m thrilled!! First time I’ve successfully germinated sweetgrass!

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    • One person found this helpful
      Richo Cech

      Admin Richo Cech

      Hi Julia,
      Honestly I know what you mean, I myself entered into working with this seed with a healthy dose of non-expectation and was pleasantly surprised. Thank you so much for the enthusiasm (it actually makes the seedlings grow better!) Richo

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  9. One person found this helpful

    Question

    Julia Mandes (verified owner)

    So far about 75% germination success, sown in cell packs and placed outside in the elements early spring, zone 7b. Thank you! Now that I have a dozen or so tiny sprigs of grass, do I pot up? Or keep them in the cell packs until they’re heartier – still so slight. Can I put them all together in an intermediate sized pot? Or do they fill a pot by themselves and I should pot separately? Final destination is a container due to city life. Not a lot of experience cultivating grasses in a container so grateful for any tips. And thank you for selling such fruitful seed!

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    • One person found this helpful
      Richo Cech

      Admin Richo Cech

      Good work Julia, a 5-star rating on this item on the website would have been a great boon to others who are wondering whether the seeds is any good.
      Anyway, individuate your seedlings and plant to pots. As a grass, they put out runners very early in their growth stage and will fill any pot they are planted to. Sweetgrass will like a cool exposure but with some sun, plenty of watering, and a rich soil.

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  10. Question

    Stephen

    Hello! I am putting in an order today and was also excited to receive these seeds (Grass, Sweetgrass (Heirochloe odorata)) if they are at all available. Thank you so much!

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  11. Question

    Valeria

    Do you know when you might have this back in stock? Or have plants? Grass, Sweetgrass (Heirochloe odorata). If not soon do you know of a good source for plants or seeds. Thank you.

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    • Richo Cech

      Admin Richo Cech

      I found a few packets and enabled the item, if you hurry you can order.
      Yes, plants coming soon, the seeds really worked!

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    • Richo Cech

      Admin Richo Cech

      OK, inventoried on 3/27/19 and was able to enable 12 packets to the time table, please hurry to order. r

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    • Tracy

      Hi Richo, I too am looking for seed and just wondering if you might be getting or have any more packets of the sweet grass. Cheers from your Canadian neighbor 🙂

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    • Richo Cech

      Admin Richo Cech

      Hi Tracy,
      I already had a similar request and enabled every packet I could. Sorry they sold out before you checked. You might be able to find this from the excellent seedhouse JL Hudson, Seedsman. They too ship internationally. Richo

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    • Gene Wasserman

      Can I get my name on a list – to order a packet if your able to get it in stock? be it this Spring 2019? or next yr?

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    • Richo Cech

      Admin Richo Cech

      Yes, I will have these soon, I will e-mail you when they come in stock. richo

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    • Colette Lalande

      I would like to purchase some sweet grass seeds and sweetgrass plants when you have them available. Please let me know when you have them in stock. Thank you.

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    • Richo Cech

      Richo Cech

      Hi Colette, The only way we can do this for you is for you to hit “waitlist” on the items, then you’ll get an e-mail when they come back in stock. Richo

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    • Richo Cech

      Richo Cech

      Yes, please hit waitlist on these items.

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    • Fawn

      When are plants/seeds typically available? I’m on the wait list just super excited!

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    • Richo Cech

      Richo Cech

      hello fawn, i believe we will be obtaining new seeds soon enough so that your excitement will not run flat. really, stay tuned and when you get the e-mail order ASAP. richo

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