Introduction
Sweetgrass is more than a plant. Its long, shimmering blades hold fragrance, memory, and meaning that reach far beyond the physical senses. Known to botanists as Hierochloe odorata or Anthoxanthum nitens, it grows naturally across the northern plains and wetlands of North America and northern Europe. To many Indigenous Nations, sweetgrass is one of the four sacred medicines, carried into ceremonies as a living prayer of gratitude and cleansing.
This article explores the story of sweetgrass through its cultural roots, botanical character, and the ethics of its respectful use. By learning where it comes from and what it symbolizes, we honor the people and lands that keep its teachings alive.
What Is Sweetgrass? A Fragrant Bridge Between Earth and Spirit
Sweetgrass belongs to the Poaceae, or grass family. It thrives in damp meadows, along rivers, and in cool northern climates. Its botanical name, Hierochloe odorata, means “holy fragrant grass.” When dried, it releases a sweet vanilla scent caused by the compound coumarin, a naturally occurring aromatic molecule also found in tonka beans and lavender.
For Indigenous Peoples of the Plains, the scent of sweetgrass signals connection and purification. The smoke rising from braided strands is believed to invite good energy and harmony. To scientists, its fragrance demonstrates the remarkable chemistry of a plant that has evolved to attract both pollinators and people. To spiritual practitioners, it represents the meeting place of matter and meaning.
The Cultural Significance of Sweetgrass in Indigenous Traditions
Across North America, many Indigenous Nations honor sweetgrass as one of their most sacred medicines. The Plains Cree, Anishinaabe, Lakota, and Dene Nations describe it as a gift from Mother Earth that carries prayers to the Creator. It is often burned at the beginning of a ceremony to call in positive energy and clear emotional space.
Sweetgrass is braided, offered, worn, or placed on altars depending on the tradition. Among the Anishinaabe, its smoke represents kindness. Among Cree healers, it is woven into bundles for protection and thanksgiving. The act of offering the plant back to the fire mirrors the circle of life: giving, cleansing, and renewal.
How Sweetgrass Is Traditionally Harvested and Braided
Traditional harvesters gather sweetgrass in midsummer, when its fragrance peaks. Rather than pulling the plant from the ground, they cut the upper blades and leave the roots to regenerate. Before and after gathering, many offer tobacco or prayers in gratitude for the plant’s gift.
Once dried, the grass is divided into three sections and braided. Each strand represents an aspect of life, such as mind, body, and spirit, or love, kindness, and honesty. Braiding itself is a ceremony, and the scent released during the motion becomes an offering. In some Nations, families braid together while sharing stories and songs, linking community and gratitude through touch and aroma.
Which Indigenous Nations Hold Sweetgrass Sacred
Sweetgrass grows widely, yet each Nation holds a distinct relationship with it.
- Cree and Anishinaabe Nations: Use sweetgrass for welcoming and prayer.
- Blackfoot and Lakota Peoples: Burn it before council gatherings as an invocation of clarity and truth.
- Dene and Métis communities: Incorporate it into healing bundles and home blessings.
These relationships reflect a worldview that treats plants as relatives rather than resources. To call sweetgrass “sacred” means to acknowledge its role as a living being within creation. Its value lies not in possession but in reciprocity.
Sustainability and Respectful Sourcing
In recent years, sweetgrass has grown popular in wellness markets, leading to overharvesting and ecological stress in some regions. Research shows that the plant depends on balanced soil microbiomes and moisture to thrive. Disturbing its habitat can disrupt both plant health and soil biodiversity.
Sustainable practice begins with understanding. Support Indigenous growers, avoid wild-harvested products unless verified as responsibly gathered, and cultivate sweetgrass where climate allows. Cutting rather than uprooting allows the plant to regrow the following season. The best approach is “sacred sustainability,” where the spirit of the plant and the health of the land are treated as one.
How Non-Indigenous People Can Engage Respectfully
Sweetgrass holds deep cultural meaning. Using it without understanding can cause harm even when intentions are good. Non-Indigenous practitioners can approach sweetgrass through respect, education, and humility.
- Learn directly from Indigenous voices. Read works by Native authors and visit cultural centers.
- Buy from Indigenous-owned suppliers. This supports community sovereignty and ethical trade.
- Use with intention. Before lighting or diffusing, take a moment to acknowledge its origins and offer gratitude.
Rituals become meaningful when they are built on listening rather than imitation.
The Symbolism of the Sweetgrass Braid
The braid of sweetgrass carries many layers of meaning that speak to connection, gratitude, and the cycles of life. Traditionally, sweetgrass is braided using 21 strands, each representing an aspect of balance and continuity.
The first 7 strands represent the seven generations behind us. Our parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and ancestors beyond. They remind us that who we are is shaped by those who came before, and that healing begins when we remember and honor our lineage.
The next 7 strands represent the seven sacred teachings: Love, Respect, Honesty, Courage, Wisdom, Truth, and Humility. These teachings are both simple and profound, guiding how we walk through the world and connect with others. Sweetgrass encourages us to weave these values into our daily lives.
The final 7 strands represent the seven generations ahead of us. Our children, grandchildren, and those yet to come. They remind us that every action we take ripples forward in time, shaping the world they will inherit. Sweetgrass teaches responsibility and mindfulness in the legacy we create each day.
“When we braid sweetgrass, we weave together the past, the present, and the future.”
Each of the three groups of seven strands forms one of the braid’s sections, symbolizing how mind, body, and spirit, or love, kindness, and honesty, intertwine to create harmony. Braiding becomes a ceremony of reflection, connection, and gratitude. The rhythmic motion, the scent released, and the intention behind each gesture all carry quiet prayer.
Sweetgrass in Modern Mindful Practice
Today, many people use sweetgrass to create spaces of peace and reflection. In mindfulness or meditation, its scent can symbolize clarity and renewal. When integrated respectfully, sweetgrass helps bridge tradition and contemporary ritual.
A small braid placed on an altar or in a home can remind us that fragrance is not decoration but communication. Every time we engage with the plant, we enter a dialogue with history, ecology, and spirit. This awareness embodies the Soul Space ethos: to scent consciously, live mindfully, and honor the lineage of each botanical gift.
Our Sweetgrass at Soul Space
At Soul Space, we believe that every fragrance should honor its origin and story. The sweetgrass braids we offer are harvested and hand-braided by Cree artisans in Canada, continuing a living cultural tradition rooted in respect, reciprocity, and skill passed through generations. Each braid carries the energy of the land and the people who care for it.
For our incense blends, we use certified organic sweetgrass grown without any chemical inputs.
When you light Soul Space sweetgrass or incense, you are connecting not only with a beautiful aroma but with a lineage of wisdom and stewardship. The scent you experience is a living bridge between people and the Earth, a shared breath of gratitude and peace.
FAQ
What does sweetgrass symbolize?
Sweetgrass symbolizes connection, peace, and healing. It reminds us of our relationship with the Earth and each other.
Why do Indigenous people braid sweetgrass?
Braiding represents unity between spirit, mind, and body or the values of love, kindness, and honesty. The act of braiding itself is prayerful.
Is it okay for non-Indigenous people to use sweetgrass?
Yes, when done with respect and awareness. Purchase from Indigenous growers and learn the cultural context before use.
How do you sustainably harvest sweetgrass?
Cut rather than pull, leave roots intact, and harvest sparingly. Always offer thanks before gathering.
What makes sweetgrass smell sweet?
Its natural aroma comes from the compound coumarin, which releases a soft vanilla-like scent when dried.
References
- King ML et al. (2024). Comparative analysis of the soil microbiome and carbohydrate content of Anthoxanthum nitens (Sweetgrass) and other Poaceae grass tissues and associated soils. Frontiers in Microbiology. DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1384204
- Dababneh NE et al. (2025). Foundations of Canadian Indigenous Medicine (Part I): The Medicine Wheel, Cultural Frameworks, and Traditional Healing Practices. Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery. DOI: 10.1177/12034754251341842
- Winslow S. (2000). Propagation Protocol for Hierochloe odorata (Sweetgrass). Native Plants Journal 1(2): 102-103. DOI: 10.3368/npj.1.2.102
- CABI Compendium (2019). Hierochloe odorata Datasheet. DOI: 10.1079/cabicompendium.114812
- Fung J. (2017). Sustaining Indigenous Religio-Cultural Traditions. In A Shamanic Pneumatology in a Mystical Age of Sacred Sustainability. Springer. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-51022-4_3
- Looman J. (1966). Hierochloe odorata (L.) Beauv. Semantic Scholar.
- Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. Sacred Plants: Sweetgrass. View Resource.
- Native American Rights Fund. Guidelines on Respectful Use of Sacred Plants. Visit NARF.
- University of Manitoba. Ethnobotany of Sweetgrass in the Plains Cree and Anishinaabe Nations. University of Manitoba.
- USDA PLANTS Database. Hierochloe odorata (Sweetgrass) Plant Profile. USDA PLANTS.