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Acorus gramineus 'Minimus Aureus'

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Kemper Code:  V210

Common Name: grassy-leaved sweet flag
Zone: 5 to 7
Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Acoraceae
Missouri Native: No
Native Range: None
Height: 0.25 to 0.5 feet
Spread: 0.5 to 0.75 feet
Bloom Time: May - June  
Bloom Color: Greenish yellow
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Low


Plant Culture and Characteristics

Sources for this plant

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  Uses:       Wildlife:   Flowers:   Leaves:   Fruit:
Hedge Suitable as annual Attracts birds Has showy flowers Leaves colorful Has showy fruit
Shade tree Culinary herb Attracts Has fragrant flowers Leaves fragrant Fruit edible
Street tree Vegetable   hummingbirds Flowers not showy Good fall color   Other:
Flowering tree Water garden plant Attracts Good cut flower Evergreen Winter interest
Gr. cover (<1') Will naturalize   butterflies Good dried flower     Thorns or spines

General Culture:

Easily grown in average, medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade. Best in light shade. Grows well in both boggy conditions (including very shallow water) and in moist garden soils. Scorched leaf tips will occur if soils are allowed to dry out. Appreciates some relief from hot summer sun (e.g., afternoon shade or filtered sun) when grown in hot summer climates. Slowly naturalizes by spreading roots.

Noteworthy Characteristics:

This grassy-leaved sweet flag cultivar is a miniature or dwarf plant which looks like a grass but is actually a member of the acorus family. Features tufts of yellow grassy-like leaf blades which grow to only 3-4" tall and slowly spread by creeping roots to form a mat of golden foliage. Foliage is sweetly fragrant. Insignificant, sedge-like flower spikes (spadixes) of tiny, densely-packed, greenish-yellow flowers appear in spring. Flowers give way to tiny fleshy berries. Commonly called grassy-leaved sweet flag because of the aromatic, grass/iris-like foliage.

Problems: Click for detailed list of pests and problems.

No serious insect or disease problems. Scorch will occur if soils are not kept consistently moist to wet.

Uses:

Mass as a golden ground cover in small areas of water gardens, along streams or ponds or in moist open woodland gardens. Can be quite effective when planted between stepping stones (foot traffic stimulates aromatic release). Also effective in rock gardens or border fronts or as small landscape accents as long as the soil moisture requirements can be met.

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