Scientific Name:
Acorus calamus
'Variegatus'
Pronunciation:
uh-KORE-us KAL-uh-mus
Common Name:
variegated sweet flag
Family Name:
Acoraceae
Plant Type:
Aquatic plant, Herbaceous perennial
Key ID Features:
Leaves sword-shaped, iris-like, fragrant when crushed, most 6-19mm wide, with wavy or crimped margins, tapering into a long, acute point, pink sheathing at bases; rhizome thick, spreading near soil surface; spadix 5-9cm in long, greenish-yellow, emerge part way up the shoot.
Habit:
Stiffly upright
Form:
Vase
Texture:
Coarse
Mature Height:
0.7 - 1.3m
Mature Spread:
0.3 - 0.6m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Central / west Asia, Europe, Garden origin, South Asia / India
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 3: (-40 to -34 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun only if soil kept moist, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Bog, Humus rich
Water Use:
Aquatic, Wetlands
Landscape Uses:
Accent plant, Aquatic - ponds, Group or mass planting, Herb, Summer interest, Wetland - bogs, Woodland margin
Additional Info:
Google. Synonym: A. 'Argenteostriatus'.
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Simple
Arrangement:
Basal
Texture/Venation:
Leathery, Heavily veined, Parallel venation
Surfaces:
Distinctive smell
Colour in Summer:
Yellow, leaves striped cream and yellow
Shapes:
Linear
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Truncate
Margins:
Entire
Additional Info:
Leaves variegated
Inflorescence Type:
Spadix (& spathe)
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
0
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Not showy, Yellow, Green
Flower Scent:
None
Flower Time at Peak:
Aug
Additional Info:
3 - 4mm wide on 5 - 9cm long inflorescence; no spadix
Fruit Type:
Berry (true), Aborted (hybrids) or absent
Fruit Colour:
Green, Brown
Fruiting Time:
Sep
Additional Info:
Fruit insignificant, shriveled berry that is infertile - triploid
Bark or Stem Colour:
n/a
Organ Modifications:
Rhizomes
Propagation:
Seed, Division - below ground parts
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
Slugs or snails (Deer resistant)
