Acorus Calamus Variegatus - Variegated Sweet Flag

This striking variety forms a tall clump of sword shaped leaves that are striped lengthwise; a great accent for a pond edge or along a stream; divide in spring if clump centers thin out

Height: 4 feet. Spread: 3 feet. Sun: full sun to partial shade. Hardiness zone: 4a.

Ornamental features

Variegated Sweet Flag is primarily valued in the landscape or garden for its ornamental upright and spreading habit of growth. Its attractive fragrant sword-like leaves remain dark green in color with prominent white stripes throughout the season.

Landscape

Variegated Sweet Flag is a dense herbaceous perennial grass with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Recommended for: Mass Planting, General Garden Use, Groundcover, Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens, Container Planting, Bog Gardens.

Planting and growing

Variegated Sweet Flag will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in moist to wet soil, and will even tolerate some standing water. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder.