How to Identify Sweet Flag,

Wetland Plant Identification

Sweet Flag (Acorus americanus)

Sweet Flag is an Obligate (OBL) wetland plant that looks a bit like cattail (Typha spp.) and Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor). Its preferred habitat is mucky shorelines, shallows, and saturated drainage ditches; and can be found growing in a foot of water.

It’s most distinguishing feature is a small cluster of flowers; technically, known as a spadix, born, midway on a long grass-like leaf blade. (To me, the spadix looks like the miniature corn cobs found in oriental dishes.)

If a spadix is not readily available, you can also confirm Sweet Flag by breaking off a leaf and crushing it in your hands. Sweet Flag has a pleasant, slightly sweet, fragrance which is not found in other monocots (plants with parallel leaf veins and vascular bundles) that are found in wetlands.