Sweetgrass is often found in open areas and wet prairies. It also grows along shorelines and in marshy habitats. It prefers cool, organic-rich soils. While it tolerates some moisture around its roots, it does not thrive in waterlogged ground.
Sweetgrass is native to North America. It is widely distributed across the northern United States (Maine, New York, Vermont), the Midwest (Minnesota, Wisconsin), and the northern Plains (Montana and North Dakota).
In Canada, it occurs in all of the country’s temperate provinces and territories. In Quebec, it is found throughout the southern part of the province, extending northward to the boreal boundary (68th parallel).