Species Northern Sweetgrass
white flowers with yellow-green foliage and stems

Northern Sweetgrass

Anthoxanthum hirtum

Also Known As - Hairy Sweetgrass
Northern Sweetgrass (Anthoxanthum hirtum) is a lovely ornamental grass that's native to North America. Its narrow clumps of slender and slender leaves grow upright, reaching up to 48 inches in height. The upper surface of the leaves are a glossy green and the underside is a light white or tinged yellow. Its flower heads look like small whisps of cotton and can range from a creamy white to a light pink in color. Northern Sweetgrass is an excellent accent plant in meadow gardens, providing many months of texture and growth. It prefers full sun to partial shade and should be planted in well drained soil.

Watering:

Minimal

Hardiness Zone:

Sun:

full sun

Leaf:

Yes

Growth Rate:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Invasive:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

A Stinking Chamomile should be watered every 4-7 days once established, depending on temperature, humidity and sunlight. To keep the soil evenly moist, water from the base of the plant. Water until the soil is saturated and discard any excess water. Do not water again until the soil starts to dry. In hot, dry weather, the plant may need to be watered more frequently. In cooler and wetter conditions, it may need less. Water for too long, or too little, can cause root rot or drought stress.

sunlight

Stinking Chamomile (Anthemis cotula) grows best in full sun or light shade. It prefers at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day. Since sunlight can vary throughout the year, the plant should receive more sunlight during the longer summer days and a bit less during the winter. It should be grown in a well-drained, moderately fertile soil in a sheltered spot where it is not exposed to strong winds or frosts.

pruning

Stinking Chamomile (Anthemis cotula) should be pruned annually, in the early spring (March or April). Pruning should include the removal of any dead, dying, diseased or broken branches, in order to encourage new growth and improve the overall health of the plant. The plant should also be thinned slightly, removing any overcrowded or crowded branches that may be inhibiting the free-flow of air and light throughout. Be careful not to prune too heavily as this can reduce flowering, as well as damage the plant. After pruning, it is a good idea to fertilize the plant with a balanced fertilizer and mulch around the base.

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