Acorus gramineus 'Ogon'

Golden Variegated Sweet Flag

Acoraceae

Key Features

Container Friendly

Maintenancelow

Overview

Acorus gramineus 'Ogon' is a distinctive, evergreen, grass-like perennial that brings exceptional textural interest and luminous color to Pacific Northwest gardens. This Japanese selection features striking golden-yellow foliage with subtle green striping that brightens shady corners and waterside plantings throughout the year. Unlike many variegated plants that may struggle in the region's limited winter light, 'Ogon' maintains its vibrant coloration even during the Pacific Northwest's gray winters, offering a welcome highlight in the garden when other plants have gone dormant. Its low-growing habit and tolerance of consistently moist soils make it particularly valuable for rain gardens, pond margins, and stream edges throughout western Washington and Oregon, where it harmonizes beautifully with native riparian plants while adding year-round structure and color.

How to Identify

Acorus gramineus 'Ogon' can be readily identified by its linear, sword-shaped leaves that emerge in a fan-like pattern from a central crown, reaching 8-12 inches in length and approximately 1/2 inch in width. The most distinctive feature is the brilliant golden-yellow coloration of the foliage, which is accented with subtle green stripes running the length of each leaf blade. When crushed, the leaves emit a characteristic sweet, citrus-like fragrance reminiscent of tangerines, a trait unique to the Acorus genus that helps distinguish it from similar-looking sedges and grasses. Unlike true grasses, Acorus has no prominent central midrib in its leaves, and the leaf margins are smooth rather than cutting. Another identifying characteristic is the unique spadix inflorescence that occasionally appears along the leaf-like stem in summer, resembling a small, greenish-yellow finger-like projection that emerges laterally from what appears to be a leaf but is actually a modified bract.

Appearance

Colors

Foliage Colors

gold

yellow

green

Bloom Information

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Partial Shade

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

Drainage

moist

Care & Maintenance

Pruning

Maintenance Level

low

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing