Intro: Stemless perennial found in marshes, wet meadows and other wet areas. Native of Eurasia, but now widespread in e. North America

Stems: Flowering stalk and leaves arise from a thick underground rhizome.

Leaves: Leaves 2-ranked and crowded basally, where they attach directly to the rhizome; linear and strap-like, to 70 in. long, with a prominent pink or red central vein and "crinkled" margins.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers crowded in a stiff, linear-cylindric spike (2-4 in. long) that is attached at an angle near the middle of a long, leaf-like stem; greenish-yellow (later brownish), tiny.

Fruits:

Comments: Crushed leaves and rhizomes have a distinctive sweet smell; traditional uses of the rhizome range from medicinal to candy-making.

Height: 1-3 1/2 ft.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Stemless perennial found in marshes, wet meadows and other wet areas. Native of Eurasia, but now widespread in e. North America

stems: Flowering stalk and leaves arise from a thick underground rhizome.

leaves: Leaves 2-ranked and crowded basally, where they attach directly to the rhizome; linear and strap-like, to 70 in. long, with a prominent pink or red central vein and "crinkled" margins.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers crowded in a stiff, linear-cylindric spike (2-4 in. long) that is attached at an angle near the middle of a long, leaf-like stem; greenish-yellow (later brownish), tiny.

fruits:

comments: Crushed leaves and rhizomes have a distinctive sweet smell; traditional uses of the rhizome range from medicinal to candy-making.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: Europe & Asia