Description
Acorus – Sweet Flag
An unusual genus consisting of only 2 species, one deciduous and the other an evergreen grass and some cultivars have been made. It’s marginal aquatic native to riverbanks and marshes in the northern hemisphere and Eastern Asia. In mid summer flower spikes bear inconspicuous flowers resembling small horn 2-3” long, but are grown for their foliage. Leaves are sweet scented flattened fans. In folk they have been used for medicine, perfume, and food flavoring.
Easily grown in boggy or very moist spot in shallow water at a ponds edge. They require full sun, and they are not frost hardy. Prune to limit spread and can be divided. Acorus gramineus will live partial submerged but will be short lived.
Prone to wet root rot, dry root rots, rust and several fungal leaf spots occur.
Acorus calamus ‘Variegatus’ – Variegated Sweet Flag – Widespread in Europe, Asia and North America. Grows 5’ feet tall and 2’ feet wide. This deciduous aquatic perennial has aromatic bright 1” wide green leaves stripped creamy white and occasionally has wrinkled edges. Young foliage may be pinkish in spring. Below the leaves in spring and summer 3” inch long pale green spikes emerge. If used as aquatic plants do not submerge deeper then 9 inches.
Zones 10-11
