How to get Scarlet Calamus in Once Human

✓ At A Glance

• Scarlet Calamus in shallow freshwater marshes, swamps, lakes, and ponds in the Dayton Wetlands
• You can also grow the plant from seeds obtained when gathering the plant
• Scarlet Calamus is used to brew Fruit Tea, Miracle Tear, Whimsical Drink, and other recipes

If you fancy brewing up some Fruit Tea to make the most of the tipple’s sanity improving and hydration benefits, then you’ll need to source Scarlet Calamus. The ingredient is also used in several other sanity-buffing recipes so is well worth tracking down. 

Though not the most elusive of plants, it only spawns in specific conditions so can be hard to track down at first. We’ll walk you through how to get Scarlet Calamus, including gathering it out in the wild and growing it yourself from seed.

Where to find Scarlet Calamus

You’ll find Scarlet Calamus growing near and in freshwater marshes, swamps, lakes, ponds, and other shallow water, chiefly in the Dayton Wetlands region. The plant is distinctive for its red cylindrical reeds, which makes spotting it a tad easier if you’re looking in the right place. To increase your yield, unlock the Harvesting Sickle Memetic Specialization if it’s available.

Though you’ve got your pick of freshwater spots in the Dayton Wetlands, here are a couple of Scarlet Calamus locations to get you started. We’ve marked the spots in the image below for ease.

The first spot is in the swamps just north of Throughville roughly in the middle of the region at coordinates 6407, -4971. Follow the water east and you’ll come across about a dozen plants you can harvest.

Another excellent farming spot that will net you over two dozen Scarlet Calamus per run is the swampy water area to the east of Brookham in the north of Dayton Wetlands. You’ll find the spot at coordinates 6863, -4573.

How to grow Scarlet Calamus in Once Human

Aside from gathering the plant out in the world, you can also grow it in your base. Every time you harvest one of the plants, you have a chance of getting a Scarlet Calamus Seed. You’ll need a Planter Box with Loamy Soil, placed outside in direct sunlight. 

Tap F on the planter, click on Scarlet Calamus Seed, choose a Fertilizer, then wait for the plant to grow. It’s also well worth getting a Buzzy Bee Deviant in your base for a chance to grow mutations of the plant with unique properties. The bee will also tend to the plant, watering it as required.

How to use Scarlet Calamus

The main use of Scarlet Calamus is brewing Fruit Tea, which replenishes Sanity (like Sanity Gummies) and Hydration but also reduces the dish weight in your inventory by -50% thanks to the Lightweight Bonus Effect. You can craft Fresh Tea at a Stove using x1 Scarlet Calamus, x1 Boiled Water, and x3 Logs.

Aside from Fruit Tea, the plant is also used in recipes for Miracle Tea, Stargazey Pizza, Securement Soup, and Whimsical Drink, though these won’t unlock until you’re deeper into the Memetic formula tree in the mid and late game.