Acorus americanus
Common Name: Sweet Flag
Acorus americanus, or Sweet Flag, is a perennial wetland plant that grows between 2 to 6 feet tall. It features sword-like, aromatic leaves and produces small, greenish-yellow flowers on a spadix from late spring to early summer. Sweet Flag commonly inhabits marshes, lakes, stream banks, and wet meadows, preferring calcareous and peat soils. Traditionally, it has been utilized by Indigenous peoples for medicinal purposes and as a flavoring agent. In landscaping, Sweet Flag is employed in rain gardens and along pond edges for its ornamental foliage and ability to stabilize soil.