Plants perennial. Culms (10)25–60 (100) cm tall, erect, simple or sparingly branched. Auricles 0.5–1 mm, pilose-ciliate, sometimes absent; ligules 2–7 mm long, truncate; blades 1–31 cm long, 3–10 mm wide. Panicles (3)4–14 cm long, the spikelets congested; lowermost branches 10–25 mm long; pedicels 0.5–1 mm long, pubescent. Spikelets 6–10 mm long; lower glumes 3–4 mm long; upper glumes 8–10 mm long; two lowest florets sterile, 34 mm long, awn of the first lemma 2–4 mm long, awn of the second lemma 4–9 mm long, equaling or only slightly exceeding the upper glumes; bisexual florets 1–2.5 mm long; anthers 2, (2.9)3.5–4.8(5.5) mm long. 2n = 10, 20.
Anthoxanthum odoratum is native to southern Europe. In North America, it grows in meadows, pastures, grassy beaches, old hay fields, wasteplaces, and openings in coniferous forests (occasionally in dense shade) or as a weed in lawns. It is most abundant on the western and eastern sdes of North America and is almost absent from the central region. In southern British Columbia, it is rapidly invading the moss-covered bedroockof coastal bluffs and will soon exclude many native species. Diploids (2n = 10) have been referred to A. odoratum subsp. alpinum (À. Löve & D. Löve) Hultén. Because the two ploidy levels can be distinguished only through cytological analysis (Hedberg 1990), the two subspecies are not recognized in this treatment.
Anthoxanthum odoratum used to be included in hay and pasture mixtures to give fragrance but this practice is waning. The aroma is released on wilting or drying. By itself, the species unpalatable because of the bitter-tasting coumarin.