Plant Profile: Acorus calamus 'Variegatus'

Names

Variegated Sweet Flag

  • Photo of Acorus calamus 'Variegatus' (Acorus calamus 'Variegatus's)

Phonetic Spelling:AH-kor-us KAL-ah-mus vay-ree-eh-GAY-tus

Genus:Acorus

Species:calamus

Family:Acoraceae

The plant features flat, iris-shaped leaves and gradually expands through branching, creeping rhizomes. Its stripes can range from cream white to yellow, making it an excellent choice for accenting moist to wet areas or even standing water. It thrives best in a wide-mouth pot and does not grow as quickly as its counterparts.

**Soil Requirements:** This plant favors moist to wet soil rich in organic material but can also adapt to average moisture levels. It is capable of tolerating shallow, standing water.

**Purpose:** Primarily cultivated for its attractive foliage.

For further details, refer to information on Acorus calamus.

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus' Feature Summary

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus' Image Gallery

Tags

#white
#full sun tolerant
#water garden
#cream
#riparian
#ornamental grass
#wetlands
#grass
#water plant
#wet sites
#organic soils
#stripes
#partial shade tolerant

Similar Plants

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus' is often confused with:

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus' Feature Summary

Flowers
Not showy (grown for foliage); sweetly fragrant flowers
Brown/Copper
Cream/Tan
Spring
Summer
Leaves
Flat iris-like leaves; spreads slowly by branching, creeping rhizomes; stripes can be cream white to yellow. Therefore, this plant has creamy white stripes on sword-like leaves.
Green
White
Gold/Yellow
Cream/Tan
Whole Plant Traits
Water Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Occasionally Wet
Frequent Standing Water
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
10a
10b
High Organic Matter

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus' Attributes

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus': Uses (Ethnobotany)

Grown for foliage

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus': Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

wet soils

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus': Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus' Flowers

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus': Flower Description

Not showy (grown for foliage); sweetly fragrant flowers

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus': Flower Color

filter_vintage
Brown/Copper
filter_vintage
Cream/Tan

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus': Flower Inflorescence

Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus': Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus': Flower Bloom Time

Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus' Leaves

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus': Leaf Description

Flat iris-like leaves; spreads slowly by branching, creeping rhizomes; stripes can be cream white to yellow. Therefore, this plant has creamy white stripes on sword-like leaves.

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus': Leaf Color

spa
Cream/Tan
spa
Gold/Yellow
spa
Green
spa
White

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus': Hairs Present

No
Yes

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus' Whole Plant Traits

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus': Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus': Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus' Cultural Conditions

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus': Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus': Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus': USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
10a
thermostat
10b
thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus': Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus' Stem

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus': Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus' Landscape

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus': Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus': Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus': Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland