Acorus calamus 'Argenteostriatus' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
Acorus calamus 'Argenteostriatus' — 13cm / 1L13cm / 1L
Acorus calamus 'Argenteostriatus' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
Variegated Sweet Flag

Acorus calamus 'Argenteostriatus'

£6.99 £7.99 SAVE 12%
Very hardySun-lovingShade-tolerant
Pot size
13cm / 1L £6.99

FREE tracked delivery on orders over £60

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Description

The Acorus calamus 'Argenteostriatus' is the silver-striped variegated form of the classic sweet flag, an architectural marginal plant prized for its long, sword-like leaves striped lengthways in bright cream and rich green. The foliage forms upright, fan-like clumps and gives off a sweet, citrussy fragrance when bruised, hence the common name.

This is one of the most reliable hardy plants for damp or wet ground in a UK garden. Whether at the edge of a pond, in a bog garden or simply in a moisture-retentive border, 'Argenteostriatus' brings a clean, vertical accent that pairs beautifully with bold-leaved companions like rodgersias, hostas and ligularias.

Plant in groups of three or more for the best architectural effect, or use it as a single specimen to anchor a damp corner of a Hardy Exotic planting. It also works well in a large damp water-tight container or half-barrel water feature. See our what to expect from outdoor plants guide for seasonal notes.

A natural partner for moisture-loving exotic foliage in an exotic border or a part-shaded planting. The variegation and verticality break up a sea of broad green leaves.

Every Acorus calamus 'Argenteostriatus' we send is a strong, well-rooted plant, hand-selected for healthy foliage and balanced shape, and packed with care to arrive in superb condition.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

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What to Expect

Seasonal by nature: what to expect

  • Grown outdoors, the way nature intended. Weather-tested and hardened in real UK conditions, so they thrive in your garden. A few marks on the older leaves are normal, the sign of a tough, real plant rather than a flaw.
  • It follows the seasons. Depending on when you order, your plant may arrive cut back, dormant or leafless. That's healthy: dormancy is the ideal time to plant.
  • Posted, not posed. Big leafy plants like bananas and gingers may be trimmed or gently folded to travel safely. It does the plant no harm, and it powers away again in spring.

Not sure what to expect from yours? Dormant, cut-back or weather-marked plants are all perfectly healthy and normal. Read what to expect through the seasons

Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? See our Return Policy.

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How to care for Variegated Sweet Flag

Plant me in full sun and the coldest UK winters do not worry me.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
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About Variegated Sweet Flag

Acorus calamus 'Argenteostriatus' needs full sun or partial shade and moist but well-drained soil. It is very hardy, standing the coldest UK winters outdoors.

Good for

Architectural Exotic Borders Pots & Containers Shade

Hardiness

TenderVery hardy

RHS H7 · Hardy Exotic · below −20°C

RHS H7, fully hardy.

Position

Full sunPartial shadeEast-facingSouth-facingWest-facingExposedSheltered

full sun to partial shade.

Soil

ClayLoamMoist but well-drainedPoorly-drainedAcid pHAlkaline pHNeutral pH

consistently moist to wet; pond margin, bog garden, damp border, or shallow water up to 10cm deep.

Watering

Keep consistently moist through the first season. Once established it is virtually self-sufficient in damp ground; only consider extra watering in prolonged dry spells if grown in a normal border rather than at a pond edge. Read moreShow less

Keep consistently moist through the first season. Once established it is virtually self-sufficient in damp ground; only consider extra watering in prolonged dry spells if grown in a normal border rather than at a pond edge.

Mature size

Height60-90 cm
Spread60-90 cm

Reaches full size in 2-5 years

Growth habit

Clump-forming

Flowering

Jun-Jul · Green

Seasonal colour

Foliage

Semi-evergreen

Pruning

In early spring, comb out and trim away last year's tatty leaves before new growth pushes through. Never cut this evergreen sedge hard to the ground.

Toxicity

Mildly toxic if eaten in large quantities. Avoid contact with eyes; sap may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

Native range

Asia, N. America (parent species)

Family

Acoraceae

Also known as

Acorus calamus 'Argenteostriatus'

Genus

Acorus
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you care for Acorus 'Argenteostriatus'?

Plant in consistently moist or wet soil at a pond edge, in a bog garden or in a moisture-retentive border. Full sun to partial shade. Keep moist through the first season and tidy any tatty old foliage in spring. See our Hardy Exotics seasonal guide.

How big does Acorus 'Argenteostriatus' get?

'Argenteostriatus' forms upright, fan-like clumps to around 60-90 cm tall and 60-90 cm wide over a few seasons. It is a moderate-paced colonizer rather than a runaway spreader, so a clump stays manageable.

Can it grow in water or ponds?

Yes. Acorus calamus is a true marginal aquatic plant. It will grow in shallow water up to around 10 cm deep at a pond edge, or in a saturated bog garden, or simply in a damp border. Use an aquatic basket with loam-based aquatic compost for pond planting.

Will the variegation stay clean?

Yes. The cream and green striping is stable from spring through autumn. The brightest variegation develops in good light; in deep shade it can fade slightly but stays distinctive. Cut back any plain green reverting shoots if they appear.

Is Acorus 'Argenteostriatus' fully hardy?

Yes. Acorus calamus is rated RHS H7, fully hardy to around -20C. It thrives across the UK with no winter protection needed, even in colder northern gardens. The foliage dies back in winter and regenerates from rhizomes in spring.

What pairs well?

Pair with bold-leaved damp lovers like rodgersias, hostas, ligularias and ferns in an exotic mixed border. The vertical, variegated foliage of Acorus breaks up a sea of broader green leaves beautifully.

Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 48 hours with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
Why Grow Tropicals

Plants delivered the way they deserve

Packaged with Care

Packaged with Care

Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Perfect for Gifting

Perfect for Gifting

From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.

Sustainability at Heart

Sustainability at Heart

All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

Good for your home - and the planet.

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£6.99 £7.99