Plant Data Sheet
Species
(common name, Latin name)
Sweetgrass, Hierochloe odorata
Range
Sweetgrass grows in wet meadows, low prairies, and the edges of sloughs
and marshes in Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, South Dakota, northwest Iowa,
and western and central
Climate,
elevation
Widely
scattered from low to high elvations
Local
occurrence (where, how common)
Common, northern – mid to high elevations, southern low to
middle elevations. (Pojar and Mackinnon 1994).
Habitat
preferences
Moist meadows, lake-shores, stream banks, streamside areas,
forest openings, beaches, upper parts of tidal marshes. (Pojar and
Mackinnon 1994)
Plant
strategy type/successional stage (stress-tolerator, competitor, weedy/colonizer, seral,
late successional)
Rhizomatous perennial. (NRCS)
Associated
species
?
May
be collected as: (seed, layered, divisions, etc.)
Seed,
plugs
Collection
restrictions or guidelines
None
Seed
germination (needs dormancy breaking?)
Seeds
only 5% viable
Seed
life (can be stored, short shelf-life, long shelf-life)
?
Recommended
seed storage conditions
?
Propagation
recommendations (plant seeds, vegetative parts, cuttings, etc.)
Rhizoimatous propagation gives by far the best results
Soil
or medium requirements (inoculum necessary?)
Not
clay or fine textured. (NCRS)
Installation
form (form, potential for successful outcomes, cost)
Rhizomatous cutting.
Recommended
planting density
13 plants per square foot. (NRCS)
Care
requirements after installed (water weekly, water once etc.)
Water
highly and grow in partial shade, then in full sun. Outdoors only.
Normal
rate of growth or spread; lifespan
Can grow to full height (2ft) in 6 months if grown from
rhizome cutting.
Sources
cited
Pojar and
Mackinnon 1994.
Plants of the
McGregor, R.L. T.M. Barkley,
http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov/pubs/mtpmcpghiod.pdf
viewed
Data
compiled by (student name and date)
Roger
Whalley