Variegated water chestnut Machaerina rubiginosa 'Variegata'

'Variegata' is a cultivar of M. rubiginosais, or Striped Rush, a water-loving perennial in the sedge family native to tropical Asia, Japan, and New Zealand. 'Varegata' is distinguised by its sword-shaped variegated blades. The leaves or blades are deep green and striped along one edge with yellow.  The blades form dense clumps by means of long, scaly rhizomes that will spread into colonies. The genus name is a reference to the blades from the Greek word 'machaira', which means 'a large knife'.

'Variegata' does best in acidic, moist to wet soil with full sun.  Plants grown in shady or part-shady areas may experience faded blades that may also become less erect or vertical.  Locating in an area that has predominately wet conditions in loose soil may also lead to taller growth. Under ideal conditions, the plants will form dense basal clumps and spread into colonies. If finding such a location (full sun, wet, loose soil) is problematic, you can more easily grow the plant in a 2-gallon pot  covered with 1 to 6 inches of water.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: 

None noted.