Pasture Management
for
Horses

Sweet Vernal Grass Anthoxanthum oderatum

Sweet scent when dry.
Tolerates drought and low fertility.
Unpalatable.
Poor yielding.

Uses for Sweet Vernal Grass

It used to be thought that this was a desirable grass simply because of its sweet smell when dried in hay. It is now known however that the substance responsible for the sweet smell (coumarin) has a bitter taste and renders the grass relatively unpalatable. Therefore this grass is not particularly desirable though it occurs naturally in many old pastures.

Physical Characteristics of Sweet Vernal Grass

No auricles, though obvious hairs around the base of the leaf blade may be mistaken for auricles, though its hairiness may vary considerably.
Obvious ligule.
Rolled shoot