Plant Details

Anthoxanthum odoratum

Sweet Vernal Grass

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Common names

44 names · 32 languages
EnglishYour language
  • bison grass[1]
  • holy-grass[1]
  • large sweetgrass[1]
+4 more namesShow fewer names
  • sweet vernal[1]
  • Sweet Vernal Grass[1]
  • sweetgrass[1]
  • vanilla grass[1]
Other languages (31)
Dutch
  • Gewoon Reukgras[1]
  • Reukgras
French
  • Flouve odorante[1]
Afrikaans
  • Heuninggras[1]
Belarusian
  • Пахучакаласнік духмяны[1]
Catalan
  • Gram d'olor[1]
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 香黃花茅[1]
Czech
  • tomka vonná[1]
Danish
  • Vellugtende gulaks[1]
Estonian
  • lõhnav maarjahein[1]
Faroese
  • angaroykgras[1]
Finnish
  • eteläntuoksusimake[1]
  • tuoksusimake[1]
Galician
German
  • Gewöhnliches Ruchgras[1]
Hungarian
  • Borjúpázsit[1]
  • illatos borjúpázsit[1]
Irish
  • Féar cumhra[1]
Italian
  • Paleino odoroso[1]
  • Paleo odoroso[1]
Japanese
  • ハルガヤ[1]
Korean
Lithuanian
  • Kvapioji gardūnytė[1]
Norwegian
Ojibwe
Polish
  • Tomka wonna[1]
Portuguese
  • Feno-de-cheiro[1]
Russian
  • Душистый колосок обыкновенный[1]
Slovak
  • tomka voňavá[1]
Slovenian
  • dišeča boljka[1]
Spanish
  • Pasto de olor[1]
  • zacate primavera[1]
Swedish
  • sydvårbrodd[1]
  • vårbrodd[1]
Ukrainian
  • Пахуча трава звичайна[1]
Welsh
  • Perwellt y gwanwyn[1]
Sources & name notes (1)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Anthoxanthum odoratum — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • sweet vernal grass — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • zacate primavera — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • sweet vernal — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • tuoksusimake — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • Gewöhnliches Ruchgras — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • flouve odorante — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • 향모 — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • bison grass — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • vanilla grass — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • holy-grass — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • wiingashk — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • sweetgrass — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • Gewoon Reukgras — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • ハルガヤ — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • tomka vonná — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • vårbrodd — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • 香黃花茅 — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • Vellugtende gulaks — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • Pasto de olor — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • Душистый колосок обыкновенный — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • gulaks — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • eteläntuoksusimake — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • Kvapioji gardūnytė — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • Tomka wonna — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • Gram d'olor — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • Feno-de-cheiro — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • Féar cumhra — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • sydvårbrodd — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • lõhnav maarjahein — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • angaroykgras — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • Пахучакаласнік духмяны — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • Lesta — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • Пахуча трава звичайна — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • dišeča boljka — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • Borjúpázsit — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • Paleo odoroso — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • Paleino odoroso — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • illatos borjúpázsit — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • tomka voňavá — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • Heuninggras — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • large sweetgrass — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • 黄花茅 — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.
  • Perwellt y gwanwyn — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 75475; Anthoxanthum odoratum.

General information

Scientific name: Anthoxanthum odoratum
Accepted name (Kew): Anthoxanthum odoratum L. View name reference ↗

Accepted in the cited Kew taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family: Poaceae

Kew's family placement for the genus Anthoxanthum (WCVP v16).

Sources [1]
Also known as: Sweet Vernal Grass
Images: Google Images

Plant characteristics

Layer: Ground cover
Catalogue size class: Small
Height: 0.51–0.91 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Spread: 0.3–0.61 m

NC State landscape size range; converted from feet and inches. Size varies with site, age and management.

Sources [3]
Growth rate: Moderate
Foliage: Deciduous
Growth habit: Clumping, Columnar, Dense

Whole-plant habit and form as described by NC State.

Sources [3]
Life cycle: Annual, Perennial
Sources [3]

Growing conditions

USDA hardiness: 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b

USDA zones listed by NC State; winter survival does not establish reliable cropping.

Sources [3]
Soil moisture:
Well-drained, Occasionally Dry, Occasionally Wet

Moisture and drainage conditions listed by NC State.

Sources [3]
Soil:
Clay, Loam (Silt), Sand
Sources [3]
pH:
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Sources [3]
Light:
Dappled Sunlight, Full sun
Sources [3]

Uses

Edible parts:
Tea, Seed
Edibility rating:
(2)
Medicinal rating:
(2)
Functions:
-

Description

Anthoxanthum odoratum, also known as sweet vernal grass or bent grass, is a beautiful perennial plant that belongs to the grass family (Poaceae). This plant is known for its delicate appearance and pleasant fragrance. Here is a description of Anthoxanthum odoratum: Appearance: Anthoxanthum odoratum is a perennial plant that grows in dense mats of grass-like green. It has fine, elongated leaves with a bright green color and soft texture. The flower heads consist of compact, upright spikes that extend above the foliage. Fragrance: As the name suggests, Anthoxanthum odoratum has a sweet scent reminiscent of freshly mown hay. This fragrance is particularly released when the plant is disturbed or when the flower heads are touched. Blooming: Anthoxanthum odoratum typically blooms from late spring to early summer, depending on the location and climate. The flowers are small and subtle, but together they form compact spikes that give the plant a charming appearance. Habitat: Anthoxanthum odoratum thrives best in moist, well-drained soils and can grow in both full sun and partial shade. You can find this plant in grasslands, meadows, woodland edges, and along paths and roads. Uses: Due to its attractive appearance and fine scent, Anthoxanthum odoratum is often used as ground cover in gardens and landscape designs. It can also be a part of wildflower meadows or natural garden plots. Anthoxanthum odoratum is a valuable addition to gardens because of its aesthetics and pleasant fragrance, and it is beloved by gardeners seeking natural beauty and simplicity.

Harvest

Harvest starts: 15/06
Harvest ends: 15/08

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew World Checklist of Vascular Plants, version 16, extracted 4 June 2026
    Supports: Botanical familyTaxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Botanical family: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1226543; name ID 394025; Anthoxanthum L.. Family column.
    • Taxonomy: WCVP v16, wcvp_names.csv row 1226524; name ID 394021; Anthoxanthum odoratum L..

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Anthoxanthum odoratum

    Taxonomic data from WCVP, version 16.0, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. This shares the Kew WCVP evidence base cited on this page.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: COL 2026-08-20, NameUsage.tsv line 1973736, ID 67GRD: Anthoxanthum odoratum L. (accepted).

    Source checked on .

  3. NC State Extension, North Carolina State University Anthoxanthum odoratum — Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
    Supports: HeightSpreadGrowth habitLife cycleLightSoil moistureSoil textureSoil pHUSDA hardiness
    Relevant sections
    • Height: Dimensions > Height; Height: 1 ft. 8 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    • Spread: Dimensions > Width; Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    • Growth habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Light: Light
    • Soil moisture: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Soil pH: Soil pH
    • USDA hardiness: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

    Source checked on .