Acorus gramineus ‘Variegatus’

Acorus, also known as Sweet Flag, Calamus, Aromatic Reed, or Japanese Rush, is a herbaceous aquatic perennial from the Araceae family (same as the arums).

It’s beloved for its elegant, grassy foliage, subtle fragrance, and tolerance of wet conditions, making it ideal for pondsides, water gardens, and even decorative containers.

• 🌿 Showy and aromatic foliage

  • • Sword-shaped, glossy, ribbon-like leaves. This cultivar has a soft cream variegation (other cultivars provide different colors: ‘Ogon’ has a gold variegation and ‘Argenteostriatus’ has a silver grey variegation)

    • Crushed leaves release a subtle anise or mandarin scent; use to infuse teas or flavor fresh dishes.

• 💧 Perfect for pond edges: Thrives in bog gardens, streamside plantings, or shallow containers with standing water.

• 🪴 Pot-friendly: Excellent for patios or small water features.

• 🌱 Non-invasive: Slow-growing rhizomes form graceful clumps without taking over.

NOTE BENE:

It is an unusual addition to our collection as it is not a properly drought tolerant perennial.

This grass prefers a marshy, moist soil found along stream banks, in marshes or shallow waters that its rhizomes can form a near seamless groundcover.

The reason for our choice is that climate uncertainty comes in many forms – some places are suffering from a lack of water, whereas other places – our region of the Deux Sè vres in particular – was overwhelmed in 2024 by tremendous amounts of rain. A plant of the future can possess many different powers – it is up to you to identify which powers you need for your garden!

Acorus can, in fact, also tolerate short periods of drought. So some plants can offer a bouquet of powers 💐

👨‍🌾GARDENING TIPS👨‍🌾:

• 💦 Prefers constantly moist soil or shallow water (up to 10–15 cm / 4–6 in.)

• 🌤 In hot climates, partial shade protects variegated types. Elsewhere, full sun is ideal.

• 🌬 In cold regions, grow in containers for easy overwintering indoors.

🌱 PLANTING TIPS🌱:

This grass is ideal for:

• Edges of ponds or water features

• Moist garden beds or boggy corners – especially ones that may have a tendency to flood

• Shady, lush borders

• Aquatic containers or troughs

The Tale:

The dried rhizome of Acorus calamus has been used in herbal medicine for centuries, particularly in digestive teas and natural remedies.

There are two main species of Acorus:

• • Acorus calamus – this one is broad-leaved, highly fragrant, known for its medicinal rhizome

  • Acorus gramineus – finer foliage, more compact, popular in aquariums (this is the one we are dealing with here!)