Acorus gramineus 'Ogon'
Acorus gramineus 'Ogon'• Click here to visit our Main Plant List page for current availability of this plant
• common name: sweet flag
• flowering season: not grown for its flowers that are inconspicuous
• height: 12 to 16 inches
• Light requirements: partial sun to full sun
• Soil requirements: does well in average garden soil and also in soil on the moist side
• Water requirments: average to wet
• Growth habit: grows as a slowly expanding clump
• How to propagate: dividing in spring or early fall
• Leaf type: thin long leaves that are evergreen in mild climates
• Ways to use it: makes a good edging plant or mixed in with other perennials in a flower bed; looks very good in a large flower pot with other plants where its leaves contrast nicely with flowering plants of other shapes
• Special characteristics: where winters are mild this offers golden leaves all winter long
• Other points of interests: because it doesn't mind wet feet, it grows well at the edge of a pond garden or in boggy conditions
Another name for this is sweet flag. It looks like a grass or small iris, but is actually a member of the arum family (Calla lily and Jack-in-the-pulpit). It is easily grown in average soil, or wet soils in either full sun or part shade, however appreciates some relief from hot summer sun when grown in southern climates. The variegated leaf blades are a ¼" wide that are striped with yellow and green but primarily appear as yellow. These colorful leaves add wonderful contrast all season. Slowly naturalizes by spreading roots, but is not invasive. Mature height will be twelve to sixteen inches, with a spread of twelve to twenty-four inches. It is cold hardy in USDA Zones 6 to 9, and into parts of Zone 5 with protection. Evergreen in warm winter climates. Useful in container gardens, for edging and as a groundcover. Great for erosion control along the banks of streams and ponds.