Acorus calamus (Sweet flag)

Other names: Flagroot, Sweet cane, Calamus, Sweet grass, Sweetroot, Sweet rush

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Species

A. calamus is a clump-forming, spreading, moisture-loving, deciduous perennial with aromatic, sword-shaped, occasionally crimped, mid-green leaves and insignificant, spike-like spadices of tiny, greenish-white flowers in summer.

Season of interest

Flower
	Spring	Summer	Autumn	Winter
Flower
Foliage
	Spring	Summer	Autumn	Winter
Foliage

Height and spread

Metric |
Imperial

Height and spread Metric \| Imperial
Size	Max height	Max spread	To maturity
0.75 m	0.6 m	2-5 years
2 ft	1 ft	2-5 years

Height and spread

Metric |
Imperial

Size

Max height

Max spread

To maturity

0.75 m

0.6 m

2-5 years

2 ft

1 ft

2-5 years

Where to grow

Soil

Soil type

Clay
Loamy
Sandy

Soil drainage

Moist but well-drained
Boggy damp conditions
Moisture-retentive

Soil pH

Acid
Alkaline
Neutral

Conditions

Sunlight

Full Sun

Aspect

West
South

Exposure

Exposed
Sheltered

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Plant details

Additional plant details

Cultivation

Grow at pond margins in very moist or wet soil in sun. Tolerates partial shade.

Suggested uses

Containers/Patio, Cottage/Informal, Low Maintenance, Waterside, Bog garden, Aquatic

UK hardiness

USDA zones

Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9, Zone 10

Sunset zone

2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 2, 3

WUCOLS

North-Central Coastal = High
Central Valley = High
South Coastal = High
South Inland = High
High and Intermediate Desert = Inappropriate
Low Desert = Unknown

Foliage

Semi-evergreen

Habit

Clump-forming

Native to

Eastern Europe, Asia

Drought tolerant

Flood tolerant

Yes

Toxicity

Not toxic

Plant care

Pruning and propagation

Pruning

In summer, cut out any dead leaves and remove faded flower spikes.

Propagation methods

Division

Propagation

Divide every 2-3 years to maintain vigour.

Pests and diseases

Pests

Diseases

Monthly care advice

Cut back after flowering in early autumn (optional)

Divide and replant in spring

Plant in wet rich soil at the margins of ponds or streams

Plant in moist or boggy soil

Plant container grown plants in a sunny postion

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (10)

Acorus

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Acorus calamus 'Argenteostriatus' Silver-striped sweet flag

Acorus gramineus 'Licorice' Japanese rush 'Licorice'

Acorus gramineus 'Hakuro-nishiki' Japanese rush 'Hakuro-nishiki'

Acorus gramineus 'Ogon' Slender sweet flag 'Ogon'

Acorus gramineus 'Variegatus' Variegated slender sweet flag

Acorus gramineus Slender sweet flag

Acorus gramineus 'Minimus Aureus' Slender sweet flag 'Minimus Aureus'

Acorus calamus Sweet flag

Acorus christophii Sweet flag

Acorus gramineus 'Golden Edge' Slender sweet flag 'Golden Edge'

This plant likes:	Garden project Loading... Selected garden	Results -% matchFor selected garden
Soil type Sandy Loamy		Plant match details will appear here
Soil drainage Moist well-drained Well-drained		Plant match details will appear here
Soil pH Neutral Alkaline Acid		Plant match details will appear here
Sunlight Full sun Partial shade		Plant match details will appear here
Aspect North facing South facing East facing West facing		Plant match details will appear here
Exposure Sheltered		Plant match details will appear here

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Acorus calamus (Sweet flag)

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Species

Season of interest

Flower

Foliage

Height and spread

Height and spread

Where to grow

Soil

Soil type

Soil drainage

Soil pH

Conditions

Sunlight

Aspect

Exposure

Plant details

Additional plant details

Cultivation

Suggested uses

UK hardiness

USDA zones

Sunset zone

WUCOLS

Foliage

Habit

Native to

Drought tolerant

Flood tolerant

Toxicity

Plant care

Pruning and propagation

Pruning

Propagation methods

Propagation

Pests and diseases

Pests

Diseases

Monthly care advice

Other plants

Plants in this Genus (10)

Plants in this Genus (10)

Companion plants (0)

Companion plants (0)

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