20 Sweetgrass Seeds, Hierochloe odorata, 'Bison grass' - SMS Ore
Pack of 20 seeds. I often have live plants for sale.
Sacred plant to many North American tribes. AKA Bison grass, Vanilla grass, Holy grass. Germination is low, 10% or less. Best is to buy a plant.
Many Native Americans burned Sweet Grass to invite the presence of good Spirits. Sweet Grass is an aromatic, cool-season perennial growing 10-24 inches in height and spreading about two feet per year by underground rhizomes. Its natural habitat is wetlands, prairies, and savannas. Germination is normally only 5-10%.
Although Sweet Grass prefers rich, moist soils, it will grow in almost any soil that receives a minimum of a half day of sun.
Modern tests show that Sweetgrass contains courmarin, a phytochemical with a vanilla-like flavor known for its medicinal value (courmarin is also found naturally in turmeric). Rare and hard to find seeds.
Easy to grow, plant will spread out through runners even more than by seeds.
To many North American indigenous cultures, Sweet Grass is considered a sacred plant used in prayer, smudging, and other ceremonies. "Smudging" refers to a ceremony that calls on the Spirits of Sacred plants to purify a person or space. Oftentimes, Sweet Grass is used in conjunction with sage, cedar, and tobacco. If you choose not to burn the Sweet Grass braid, the aromatic smell will remain for years!
How to HARVEST, DRY, and BRAID your own grass:
If Sweet Grass receives adequate rainfall or irrigation, it will actively grow from spring to fall. Harvesting can take place in either summer or early fall. Early harvest may be more aromatic, but leaves will be shorter. Watch for foliage starting to go dormant from lack of moisture or colder fall temperatures. Leaves will lighten in color as they bleach from the sun and lose some of their scent. Complete the harvest by this time. As you are cutting, tie grass bundles in approximately 1 1/2" in diameter (rubber bands work well) and hang in a dry, ventilated area out of the sunlight. Before braiding, reconstitute bundles by submerging in water only until thoroughly moistened, but not longer than necessary. Wrap moistened bundles in a towel for at least 15 minutes to allow water to be absorbed. Braid when pliable and allow to dry thoroughly before storing.
Note: Sweetgrass seeds typically have a low germination rate, around 5-10%. This is due to a biological limitation in sweetgrass flowers to produce viable seeds. Fortunately, a single seedling can produce hundreds of plants because the roots produce many rhizomes which develop into new plants and can be wonderfully invasive.