Overview

Introduce a vibrant, architectural element to your garden with our Japanese Sweet Flag Grass, scientifically known as Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’. This offering includes three healthy live plants, each nestled in a 2.5-inch pot, ready to be transplanted into your waterscape. The ‘Ogon’ cultivar is celebrated for its striking, variegated foliage, featuring bright gold and green stripes that remain attractive throughout the growing season. Perfect for adding texture and color to pond edges, stream banks, or constantly moist garden beds, these Acorus Ogon plants provide year-round visual interest, especially in areas where other plants might struggle with excessive moisture. Embrace the beauty of this resilient aquatic perennial in your outdoor space.

Key Benefits

Integrating Japanese Sweet Flag Grass into your landscape offers numerous advantages, from aesthetic enhancement to ecological support. These plants are not only beautiful but also remarkably adaptable, making them a fantastic choice for various garden styles.

• Stunning Variegated Foliage: The bright gold and green stripes of the ‘Ogon’ cultivar provide exceptional visual appeal, creating a focal point or a beautiful contrast against darker foliage. These colors are particularly vibrant in full sun to partial shade.
• Ideal for Waterscapes: This grass thrives in consistently wet conditions, making it an excellent choice for planting next to ponds, water gardens, stream edges, or even in boggy areas where other plants would falter. It helps to naturalize water features.
• Low Maintenance & Hardy: Once established, Japanese Sweet Flag Grass requires minimal care. It is a robust perennial, tolerant of a wide range of conditions and resistant to many common pests and diseases. Its hardiness spans USDA Zones 4-11, making it suitable for a vast array of climates.
• Compact & Clumping Growth: Growing in neat clumps approximately 10 inches tall and 4-6 inches wide, it maintains a tidy appearance without becoming invasive. This controlled growth habit makes it suitable for smaller spaces and container planting around water features.
• Erosion Control: When planted along banks or slopes near water, the fibrous root system of pond plants like Acorus Ogon can help stabilize soil, preventing erosion and maintaining the integrity of your waterscape.
• Wildlife Interest: While not a primary food source, the dense foliage can offer shelter for small aquatic creatures and insects, contributing to the biodiversity of your garden ecosystem.
• Year-Round Interest: Unlike many perennials that die back completely in winter, zone 4-11 plants like Acorus Ogon often retain their attractive foliage, providing structure and color even during colder months in milder climates.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your Japanese Sweet Flag Grass is straightforward, especially when you understand its preference for moist environments. These plants are highly adaptable and forgiving, making them a great choice for both novice and experienced gardeners looking for beautiful aquatic grass options.

Sunlight Requirements: Acorus Ogon performs best in full sun to partial shade. In hotter climates, some afternoon shade can protect the foliage from scorching and help maintain its vibrant coloration. In cooler regions, full sun encourages the brightest variegation. Aim for at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth.

Watering & Soil Moisture: This is where Acorus Ogon plants truly shine. They absolutely love water! Plant them where the soil can remain consistently moist to wet. They can tolerate standing water up to a few inches deep, making them perfect for pond margins, bog gardens, or containers submerged in water. If planting in a regular garden bed, ensure it’s an area that receives ample moisture, perhaps near a downspout or in a naturally damp depression. Regular watering is crucial if not planted directly in a water feature.

Soil Type & Drainage: While they prefer wet conditions, good drainage is still important to prevent stagnant water, especially if not fully submerged. A rich, loamy soil with plenty of organic matter is ideal. For pond planting, use heavy garden soil or specialized aquatic planting medium; avoid light potting mixes that will float away. The root system will anchor securely in suitable soil.

Temperature Range & USDA Hardiness Zone: The Japanese Sweet Flag Grass is incredibly hardy, thriving in USDA Zones 4-11. This wide range means it can withstand cold winters in many northern climates and hot summers in southern regions. In colder zones, the foliage may die back in winter, but the plant will re-emerge vigorously in spring. In warmer zones, it can remain evergreen.

Fertilization: Generally, aquatic grass like Acorus Ogon does not require heavy fertilization. If planted in rich pond soil or a healthy garden bed, it may not need any additional nutrients. If growth seems slow or foliage lacks vigor, a balanced slow-release aquatic plant fertilizer can be applied in spring, following product instructions carefully to avoid over-fertilizing or nutrient runoff into water bodies. For container plants, a general-purpose slow-release fertilizer can be used sparingly.

Common Problems: Acorus Ogon is relatively pest and disease-free. The most common issue arises from insufficient moisture; if the soil dries out, the leaf tips may brown. Ensure consistent moisture to keep your Japanese Sweet Flag Grass looking its best. Divide clumps every few years in spring to maintain vigor and prevent overcrowding.

Size & Details

This offering includes 3 Japanese Sweet Flag Grass live plants, each cultivated in its own 2.5-inch nursery pot. Upon arrival, the plants will be well-rooted and ready for immediate transplanting. Each plant typically forms a dense clump, reaching a mature height of about 10 inches and spreading 4-6 inches wide. The growth rate is moderate, allowing you to enjoy a mature, well-established look within one to two growing seasons. These plants are shipped as actively growing live specimens, ensuring a healthy start in your garden. They are robust perennials that will return year after year, providing continuous beauty to your water features and moist garden areas. The compact size of these Acorus Ogon plants makes them versatile for various planting schemes, from mass plantings to container arrangements around ponds.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: Each Japanese Sweet Flag Grass clump typically reaches about 10 inches tall and spreads 4-6 inches wide. It maintains a neat, upright habit, making it ideal for edges and compact spaces.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: You will receive 3 individual Acorus Ogon plants, each pre-grown in a 2.5-inch nursery pot. This size is perfect for easy transplanting into your desired location.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: This is primarily an outdoor plant, specifically suited for aquatic or consistently moist garden environments. While it can be briefly brought indoors in very cold climates, it thrives best outdoors near water features.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: Japanese Sweet Flag Grass prefers full sun to partial shade. For the most vibrant gold variegation, aim for at least 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily. It can tolerate more shade, but colors may be less intense.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, Acorus Ogon plants are considered very easy to care for, especially if their moisture needs are met. They are low-maintenance and resistant to most pests and diseases, making them excellent pond plants for beginners.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: Your Japanese Sweet Flag Grass will arrive as healthy, actively growing live plants in their 2.5-inch pots, carefully packaged to ensure safe transit and readiness for planting.
• Q: When is the best time to plant? A: The best time to plant zone 4-11 plants like Acorus Ogon is in spring or early fall, allowing the roots to establish before extreme temperatures. However, because they are container-grown, they can be planted any time the ground is not frozen.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: Yes, Japanese Sweet Flag Grass is extremely hardy and typically survives winters in USDA Zones 4-11. In colder zones, foliage may die back but will regrow from the roots in spring.
• Q: Can these be grown in containers? A: Absolutely! These aquatic grass plants are excellent for containers, especially if the containers can be placed in or near a water feature, ensuring constant moisture. Ensure the container has no drainage holes or is placed in a saucer of water.
• Q: Are these plants invasive? A: No, Acorus Ogon plants grow in neat, non-invasive clumps. They spread slowly by rhizomes but are easily managed and contained, unlike some other water plants.