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Acorus gramineus 'Variegatus' (Sweet Flag) - Grass-like perennial with thin iris-like arching foliage that has a thin cream variegation. Grows to 6-12 inches tall and spreads slowly by rhizomes. Tiny, insignificant, yellow-green flowers bloom from spring to early summer on lateral, sedge-like flower spikes but are hardly noticeable.
Plant in full sun to light shade in soil that is moist or regularly irrigated. In a pond the water depth should be right at the soil line or up to 2 to 4 inches above crown. It is cold hardy to USDA Zone 5 (-10°F). A useful plant massed as a small-scale groundcover or as an accent container plant or to light up a dark area of the pond.
The species Acorus gramineus, commonly called grassy-leaved sweet flag, is native to wetland areas of China, Japan, Korea, India, Thailand, Myanmar and the Philippines. The name for the genus was one that Theophrastus, the Greek considered to be the "father of botany", used for a plant with an aromatic rhizome. The specific epithet comes from the Latin word meaning "grass". We grew this plant from 1984 until 2005.
The information about Acorus gramineus 'Variegatus' displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |
