Acorus calamus ‘Variegatus’
Blooming Time
Exposure
Named from the Latin word calamus, meaning reedlike, variegated sweetflag is a descendent of a native streamside dweller once strewn about cabin floors to sweeten the air. Naturally, its foliage is also sweet smelling, but its charm does not stop at that. Keeled, leathery, upright, and straplike, these rugged leaves are colorfully striped white and green and do not fade as the season progresses. A superb plant for color and contrast, variegated sweet flag tolerates moist soils but is very comfortable in regular garden settings. It is a wonderful companion plant, compatible with dozens of ground covers, grasses, and perennials, and may be mass planted as a ground cover. Its summerborne flowers, greenish yellow and tiny, are carried in ½-inch wide upright 3½-inch long spadixes – like those of Jack-in-the-pulpit.
Details
Hardiness Zone:
Blossom Color:
White to Cream
Growth Habit:
Slow Spreading
Max Height:
2'
Texture:
Recommended Spacing:
We sell this plant in these containers:
Special Characteristics
Features
Rugged, sweet smelling colorfully white and green striped leaves. Native cultivar, moisture tolerant and superb for color and contrast.
Landscape Value
Superb specimen, edging plant, accent, or companion. Also excellent as a large-scale ground cover when mass planted.
Care
Watering:
Variegated Sweet Flag requires a fair amount of supplemental watering and often requires watering on a regular basis during the growing season.
Fertilizing:
Variegated Sweet Flag is a moderate feeder, benefiting from a couple of annual applications of slow release fertilizer. A spring application of a 3-1-2 ratio (such as a 15-5-10) can be applied at a rate of about 10 pounds per 1000 square feet, and during early fall, an application of a 2-1-2 ratio (such as a 10-5-10) can be applied to encourage root development and cold hardiness.
Pruning:
Variegated Sweet Flag should be enjoyed all winter long, then, during early April before it begins to grow again, it should be pruned or mowed back to ground level.