Acorus calamus 'Variegatus' (Variegated Sweet Flag / Gestreepte Kalmoes)

Acorus calamus 'Variegatus' is the variegated sweet flag, producing bold sword-shaped leaves with cream and green longitudinal stripes that develop an attractive pink flush in cold weather, carrying a pleasant spicy fragrance when crushed. A long-cultivated pond marginal plant widely sold in Dutch and Belgian garden centres, it provides excellent year-round structural and foliar interest at the pond edge and is completely cold-hardy through Northern European winters.

Plant in shallow water (0–10 cm depth) or moist pond-edge soil in full sun to partial shade. Fully cold-hardy — overwinters well in Belgian conditions without any protection. Divide clumps every 2–3 years in spring to maintain vigour. Remove dead or damaged leaves in autumn. Avoid planting in deep water. The cream variegation is most vivid in full sun with adequate moisture.