Help me find a way to grow sweetgrass!

August 1, 2008 12:27 PM

My father LOVES and wants to grow some sweetgrass in his lawn/field. Anyone know where I could order some clippings/seed/way to grow the darned stuff?

He loves the smell of it and it holds a lot of memories for him from childhood. He said it basically doesn't propagate from seed so APPARENTLY he needs a place he can get clippings. He hasn't been able to find any of the plant, let alone enough to get clippings from, so he's down to buying clippings online (because no one around here has any). Any suggestions where I could direct him online? I don't think price is much of an issue for him. He's kinda obsessed. LOL

posted by gwenlister to home & garden (6 comments total)

Google's first result for Hierochloe odorata is for Redwood City Seed Co., which sells sweetgrass plugs (probably the most viable way to get it growing).

More places selling plugs listed in this search.
posted by vers at 12:51 PM on August 1, 2008

I knew I had seen it while doing prairie restoration and at a Native American ceremony, so I searched for those things.

here is one company that sells it
posted by melissam at 12:56 PM on August 1, 2008

This is a reliable source. I'm only familiar with the South Carolina variety, but this<a might help.
posted by Heatwole at 12:57 PM on August 1, 2008

This doesn't answer your question directly, but Juniper Ridge sells beautiful dried sweetgrass braids and incense (I hate incense, generally, but this is pretty much *just* sweetgrass and olive oil, and is very lovely). If he's just looking to reconnect with the smell, this might be easier than growing it himself.
posted by judith at 11:51 PM on August 1, 2008

I got mine from Blossom Farm - but they're currently sold out, I'm afraid.
posted by Zeedog at 11:25 AM on August 3, 2008

Being Mik'maq myself, I can understand his love of sweetgrass as I hold quite a few memories of it's wonderful scent; both as used in basketwork, as well as in dried braids.

In the past, I did purchase some sweetgrass plants from Richters Herbs here in Canada, they do ship to the US as well.

You didn't mention if your father is in New Brunswick as you are; but you could also try to make contact with the aboriginal-owned Millbrook Greenhouse & Garden Center that is located on the reserve in Millbrook, just outside Truro NS. A few years ago they were growing vast amounts of sweetgrass seedlings in pots -- I picked up about 2 dozen pots for distribution at the powwow in Miramichi, where they were extremely popular.

Hopefully one of these leads might prove helpful to your Dad and allow him to reconnect with a scent from his past -- good luck!
posted by Jade Dragon at 11:58 PM on August 5, 2008