Holy grass, Sweet grass, Vanilla grass
Hierochloe odorata

Family: Poaceae

What it is like

A tufting grass. It keeps growing from year to year. It has an aromatic smell. It has a creeping rootstock. The stalks are smooth and 30-60 cm high. The leaf blades are flat and 20-40 cm long. The flower is pyramid shaped. The spikelets have 3 flowers. They are shiny and yellow-brown or purplish.

There are about 15-30 Hierochloe species. They grow in cool places.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in damp meadows and near lakes in the Rocky Mountains in Canada.

Countries/locations it is found in

Alaska, Asia, Australia, Britain, Canada, Caucasus, China, Europe, France, India, Korea, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North America, Norway, Poland, Scandinavia, Tasmania, USA

How it is used for food

The leaves yield an essential oil used to flavour candy, soft drinks, and tobacco. Leaves are used to flavour vodka.

Edible parts

Seeds, cereal, leaves - flavouring

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed which needs to be stored for 6-12 months before sowing. They can also be grown by division of the clump.

Its other names

Local names

Marigras, Russian buffalo-grass, Zubrovka

Synonyms

Hierochloe borealis Roem. & Schult.;