Species library · Plants & herbs

Sweet Flag: poisonous

Acorus calamus

☠ Poisonous. Do not eat.What to do if poisoning is suspected

Sweet Flag is classed as poisonous in the Forage field guide. This page helps you identify it and tell it apart from similar species. It is not a foraging guide. When in doubt, have a find identified by an expert.

If you suspect poisoning, call your local poison control center right away. If someone has trouble breathing, has a seizure or is unconscious, call emergency services. Don't wait for symptoms: with some poisonings they only start hours later. Keep any leftovers of the find, they help identify it.

Usually seen from August to October in the northern hemisphere. Found in Waterside, Wetland. Can be confused with similar species.

☠ Poisonous
Sweet Flag (Acorus calamus)

Photo: J.F. Gaffard, Autoreille, France · CC BY-SA 3.0

When Sweet Flag appears

Typical window in the northern hemisphere. The southern hemisphere runs about six months offset.

Where it grows

Sweet Flag is usually found in Waterside, Wetland.

⚠ Look-alikes

Look up Sweet Flag in the app

In the Forage app, Sweet Flag has a full field guide entry with more photos, key features and the species it can be confused with.

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Sweet Flag: common questions

Is Sweet Flag poisonous?

Yes. Sweet Flag is classed as poisonous in the Forage field guide. Do not eat it. If you suspect poisoning, call your local poison control center right away, or emergency services if it is life-threatening.

When does Sweet Flag appear?

Sweet Flag usually appears from August to October in temperate northern regions. The exact timing shifts with latitude, elevation and each year's weather.

Where does Sweet Flag grow?

Sweet Flag is usually found in Waterside, Wetland.

What can Sweet Flag be confused with?

Deadly look-alikes: White hellebore, Yellow flag iris, Blue flag iris. Only a confident identification tells them apart. When in doubt, have a find checked by an expert.

One note before you head out

Forage helps you discover and identify wild plants, but identification is never 100% certain. Many edible plants have toxic lookalikes. Never eat anything you find based only on what this app tells you. Always confirm with a field guide, an experienced forager or a local expert. The season score tells you where to look, too: it’s not a guarantee. Mind conservation law and property rights as well.

Species photos via Wikimedia Commons and iNaturalist · full credits