Anthoxanthum odoratum L.
Scented Vernal Grass
Sweet vernal grass is a short-lived perennial native to Britain and much of Eurasia, forming neat, loosely tufted clumps of soft, flat, slightly hairy leaves. It is one of the earliest grasses to flower, sending up narrow, spike-like heads in spring that ripen from green to a warm straw colour.
About
Sweet vernal grass is a short-lived perennial native to Britain and much of Eurasia, forming neat, loosely tufted clumps of soft, flat, slightly hairy leaves. It is one of the earliest grasses to flower, sending up narrow, spike-like heads in spring that ripen from green to a warm straw colour. Its great distinction is scent: when bruised or dried the plant releases coumarin, the sweet smell most people recognise as fresh hay, which is why it has long been valued in traditional meadows.
It grows across unimproved pastures, hay meadows and grassy banks, tending to favour neutral to slightly acid soils that are not too fertile. In amenity and conservation seed mixes it is prized as an indicator of old, species-rich grassland and for the fragrance it lends to a cut sward. As an early flowerer it provides pollen for insects ahead of many other grasses, and it knits in well among finer fescues and meadow herbs.
Also known as
Sweet Vernal Grass · Sweet Vernal-grass · Sweet Vernalgrass · Sweet-scent Vernal Grass · bison grass · holy-grass · large sweet vernalgrass · sweet vernal · sweetgrass
Synonyms
Anthoxanthum alpinum · Anthoxanthum asperum · Anthoxanthum nebrodense · Anthoxanthum odoratum effusum · Anthoxanthum odoratum formosum · Anthoxanthum odoratum glabrum · Anthoxanthum odoratum interruptum · Anthoxanthum odoratum laxum · Anthoxanthum odoratum longispicatum · Anthoxanthum odoratum montanum · Anthoxanthum odoratum odoratum
In our seed mixes
- BFS 1 – Traditional Hay Meadow Wildflower Mix
- BFS 2 – Acid Grassland Wildflower Seed Mix for Sandy or Peaty Soils
- BFS 3 – Floodplain Meadow Grassland Seed Mix
- BFS 4 – Heavy Clay Soil Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS 5 – Wetland & Pond Edge Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS 6 – Hedgerow & Shade Wildflower Seed Mix
- BFS 8 – High Nutrient Initial Establishment Wildflower Grassland Mix – 50% Flora
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.