Sweetgrass Braid

Hierochloe odorata or Anthoxanthum nitens^[1] (commonly known as sweet grass, manna grass, Mary’s grass or vanilla grass, and as holy grass in the UK,^[2] bison grass e.g. by Polishvodka producers^[3]) is an aromatic herb native to northern Eurasia and North America. It is used in herbal medicine and in the production of distilled beverages (e.g., Żubrówka, Wisent). It owes its distinctive sweet scent to the presence of coumarin.

Native American traditions[edit]

 

Making Sweet Grass Medicine, painting by Joseph Henry Sharp

Sweet grass is widely used by North American indigenous peoples from many different Nations. Among many of the Plains Indians is considered one of the "four sacred medicines".