Anthoxanthum odoratum

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Essential Laboratory Skills Guide

Vanilla grass, anthoxanthum odorata, is also known as sweet vernal grass, holy grass, or buffalo grass. It can be grown in the yard, but is popular for growth in pots inside the house, because it smells like vanilla, especially after being cut and dried.  

• one small plug should grow to cover 2 square feet per growing season
• Hardy, to zone 3a
• up to 2 feet tall
• Perennial
• Full sun to partial shade

This grass contains coumarin glycoside and benzoic acid, producing its desirable scent, a cross between fresh hay and vanilla. Smells much like Sweet Woodruff.

Growing:

Sow by scattering on the ground in the spring through fall. Germinates in 4 to 5 days. Prefers sandy loam and a high pH (can be obtained by fertilizing with used coffee grounds, pine needles, or sawdust).

Has become a weed in bushland areas of S.E Australia.

References

• Pink, A. (2004). Gardening for the Million.. Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.