Gardening Edible Gardening Herbs Sweetgrass By Viveka Neveln Viveka Neveln Instagram Viveka Neveln is the Garden Editor at BHG and a degreed horticulturist with broad gardening expertise earned over 3+ decades of practice and study. She has more than 20 years of experience writing and editing for both print and digital media. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on February 1, 2017 Share Tweet Pin Email Sweetgrass Overview Description Also called holygrass or bisongrass, sweetgrass is a native prairie grass prized for its fresh scent. It grows naturally in meadows and along stream banks. Native American tribes have long used sweetgrass for making smudge sticks as well as for weaving baskets. The plant spreads up to 2 feet wide annually, so plant it where it can be confined. It eventually forms a thick mat of foliage that tends to flop over unless cut back. Genus Name Hierochloe odorata Common Name Sweetgrass Plant Type Herb, Perennial Light Part Sun, Sun Height 1 to 3 feet Width 12 to 24 inches Season Features Summer Bloom Special Features Good for Containers, Low Maintenance Zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Propagation Division, Seed Problem Solvers Groundcover Find perennials to pair with your herbs More Videos » Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit