Acorus americanus 4"

Sweet Flag forms stands of green foliage that fan out directly from the roots. A colony of them may look like iris leaves from a distance. Green-yellow flowers protrude and arc from stiff spathes in mid-summer giving way to berries which turn a rich brown as they dry in the summer heat. The "sweet" in the name comes from the aroma the cinnamon-like leaves give off when broken. 

This plant grows to 2 feet in height and prefers to keep its feet wet or damp and grows best in full sun. The leaves will start to scorch if the soil dries out. Sweet Flag spreads by rhizomes and in the right conditions can form large colonies. The dense root system stabilizes the soil. It is an excellent choice for pond edges.