Golden variegated sweet flag forms low fans of grassy, gold-striped foliage that stays evergreen, brightening beds through a Birmingham winter. It slowly knits into a soft, glowing groundcover about a foot tall.

This is the rare gold plant that wants wet feet: pond edges, downspout beds, rain gardens, and poorly drained corners are exactly where it belongs. It takes sun to part shade, with richer gold color in more light, and needs little more than a spring tidy-up.