In North America, from Newfoundland to Alaska, south to New Jersey and west to Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and northern California. Wet meadows, low prairies, edges of sloughs and marshes, bogs, shaded streambanks, lakeshores, and cool mountain canyons. Usually found in mid-successional communities. It can withstand some soil disturbance. Stems and leaves probably killed by fire during the growing season.
Stems rise from dead foliage of the preceding year.
This foliage may protect basal buds from fire damage in the spring when moisture content of dead foliage is high. But in fall, it is more likely that the buds would be damaged by heat produced when the dried foliage burns. Member of some meadow communities succeeded by forest in the absence of disturbance. Fire exclusion from these communities may favor other species over Sweet Grass. Some Native American peoples used it as incense for purification of places and things.