Golden Japanese Sweet Flag (Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’)

Golden Variegated Slender Sweet Flag | Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’

Compact golden striped marginal plant for pond edges and small water features

Golden Variegated Slender Sweet Flag is a brilliant choice if you are looking to introduce colour, texture, and structure into your pond without overwhelming the space. Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’ is a compact, clump forming marginal plant that stands out for its vibrant golden yellow and green striped foliage, bringing a fresh and uplifting feel to pond edges and water features.

Unlike larger marginal plants, this variety remains neat and controlled, making it ideal for smaller ponds, container ponds, and tighter planting areas where space is limited. Its slender, arching leaves create a soft flowing effect that contrasts beautifully with still water, rocks, and surrounding planting. The foliage holds its colour throughout the growing season and often provides year round interest in milder UK conditions.

While it does produce small, greenish yellow flowers between May and July, these are quite subtle. The real appeal of this plant lies in its foliage, which provides a clean, architectural look that works equally well in modern designs and more naturalistic planting schemes.

Golden Sweet Flag thrives in consistently moist soil or very shallow water, typically up to 5 cm deep. It is perfect for marginal shelves, pond edges, and damp borders. In sunnier positions, the golden tones of the leaves become more intense, while in partial shade it still performs well, offering a softer, more subtle colour.

This plant is also beneficial for pond ecosystems. Its dense foliage offers shelter for small pond life and amphibians, while its structure creates safe resting areas for insects such as dragonflies. Because it grows slowly and does not spread aggressively, it is very easy to manage and maintain over time.

Golden Variegated Slender Sweet Flag is particularly effective when planted in groups or combined with darker green plants to maximise contrast. It is also an excellent option for adding colour to shaded corners of a pond where other plants may struggle.

Fully hardy and low maintenance, this is a reliable, easy to grow marginal plant that will enhance any pond setting.

🇬🇧 UK-grown aquatic plant: Grown at a dedicated aquatic plant nursery in the South of England and carefully prepared for delivery across the UK.

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Key Benefits

• Bright golden variegated foliage for year round interest
• Compact size perfect for small ponds and containers
• Adds structure and texture to pond edges
• Non invasive and easy to manage
• Provides shelter for amphibians and pond wildlife
• Works in both sun and partial shade

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Reasons to Buy

• Ideal for smaller ponds and water features
• Excellent for adding colour without large growth
• Low maintenance and beginner friendly
• Perfect for modern and natural pond designs
• Combines beautifully with darker foliage plants

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Care Instructions

• Place on a marginal shelf at a depth of 0 cm to 5 cm, measured from the top of the basket to the water surface, or plant into consistently moist soil.
• Position in full sun for the strongest golden colour, although partial shade is well tolerated.
• Trim back any dead or damaged foliage in early spring to encourage fresh growth. Divide clumps every few years to maintain vigour and keep the plant tidy.

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Flowering Period

May to July

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Size and Growing Conditions

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Dispatching Your Pond Plants

Your Golden Japanese Sweet Flag will be carefully packed to protect the foliage and roots during transit.

Orders received by 11am Monday to Wednesday are normally dispatched on the following working day using a next working day courier service. During busy periods, dispatch may occasionally take an extra day.

To avoid plants being held in depots over a weekend, we do not usually dispatch on Fridays. Highlands and Islands orders using a two day service are not normally dispatched on Thursdays.

Available basket sizes:

• Pack of 3 × 9cm Pots
• 1 Litre Basket – usually 11 × 11 × 11cm square; some varieties may be supplied in a 14cm diameter × 10cm round basket
• Pack of 3 × 1 Litre Baskets – each usually 11 × 11 × 11cm square
• 3 Litre Hexagonal Basket – 18 × 18 × 16cm

Planting depth is measured from the top of the aquatic basket to the water surface.

Plants supplied in 9cm pots require potting into suitable aquatic baskets before being placed in the pond.

Finofil baskets are manufactured in the UK from 100% recycled plastic and are fully recyclable. Their fine dual-mesh construction helps retain aquatic soil while allowing water and nutrients to reach the roots. Basket shape may vary slightly depending on the plant and supplier availability.

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Similar pond plants

For another pond-edge planting option, compare Variegated Japanese Sweet Flag (Acorus gramineus ‘Variegatus’) and Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica). Explore the Acorus pond plant group to compare the whole collection.

Explore more marginal pond plants or browse our complete pond plants range. Need baskets, aquatic soil or planting essentials? Browse our pond plant baskets and aquatic planting supplies.