Grass-like plant has fragrant, cream and bright green variegated, 1 inch wide leaf blades. Tiny greenish flowers appear in 2 to 4 inch long spadixes, just below the leaf tips in late spring. Flowers give way to tiny fleshy berries.

Acorus calamus prefers to grow in fertile, constantly moist, acidic soil. However, it will tolerate a wide range of conditions as long as moisture is constantly available, including standing water up to 5 inches deep. In hot summer climates, without afternoon shade or filtered sun, leaf tips may scorch if allowed to dry out. A regular watering schedule during the first growing season will help establish root system. Propagate by division only, divide every 2 to 3 years in early spring.

Slowly naturalizes by creeping rhizomes and can form large colonies in the wild. This grass is not aggressively invasive, nor a true grass.

Common name is variegated sweet flag because of the aromatic, grass or iris-like foliage. When crushed, it releases a fragrance reminiscent of tangerine. The sweet scent of calamus oil is used in perfumes and potpourri. It has even been used in the production of gin and beer as a flavor smoother and enhancer.

Native to bogs, it is great for bogs, containers, edging or as a groundcover, and ideal in water gardens, along streams or ponds, or anywhere soil moisture requirements can be met. Maintenance free and deer resistant.