Lizard’s Tail
Saururus cernuus
Lizard's Tail (Saururus cernuus) is a perennial aquatic to semi-aquatic herbaceous plant belonging to the family Saururaceae. It is the most widely recognized species in the small genus Saururus, which comprises only two species globally. The plant derives its common name from its distinctive drooping, tail-like flower spikes, which closely resemble a lizard's tail in both shape and texture. Native to eastern North America, Lizard's Tail is valued both as an ornamental plant for water gardens and for its historical use in traditional medicine by Indigenous peoples. It is a hardy, spreading wetland plant that forms dense colonies along the margins of ponds, streams, and swamps.
• Saururus cernus is native to eastern North America, ranging from southeastern Canada (Ontario, Quebec) southward to Florida and westward to Texas and Minnesota
• Saururus chinensis is found in China, Japan, Korea, and parts of Southeast Asia
• This biogeographic pattern is shared by many plant genera and is thought to reflect ancient connections between the floras of eastern North America and eastern Asia via land bridges during the Tertiary period
• Fossil evidence suggests the family Saururaceae dates back to the Cretaceous period
• The family Saururaceae is considered phylogenetically primitive among angiosperms, closely related to the order Piperales (which includes black pepper, Piper nigrum)
Rhizome & Stems:
• Spreads aggressively via fleshy, white to pale yellow rhizomes that creep through shallow water or saturated soil
• Rhizomes are aromatic when crushed, with a distinctive citrus-like or sassafras-like fragrance
• Stems are erect to arching, zigzagging at the nodes, green to reddish-green, and hollow
• Stems are jointed and can root at the nodes when in contact with moist substrate
Leaves:
• Arranged alternately along the stem
• Shape: broadly ovate to heart-shaped (cordate), 5–15 cm long and 3–10 cm wide
• Margins: entire (smooth-edged)
• Texture: thin, soft, bright green above, paler beneath
• Petioles (leaf stalks) are 1–5 cm long and clasp the stem at the base
• Leaves are aromatic when crushed, similar to the rhizomes
Flowers & Inflorescence:
• The most distinctive feature: a nodding (pendulous) terminal spike, 5–15 cm long, resembling a lizard's tail
• Flowers are small (~1 mm), white to greenish-white, and densely packed along the spike
• Each flower lacks true petals and sepals (perianth absent); instead, 6–8 conspicuous white bracts give the inflorescence its showy appearance
• 6–8 stamens and a single pistil per flower
• Blooms from late spring through summer (May–August)
• The drooping posture of the flower spike is reflected in the species epithet "cernuus," meaning "nodding" or "drooping" in Latin
Fruit & Seeds:
• Fruit is a schizocarp (a dry fruit that splits into segments), roughly 2–3 mm in diameter
• Each fruit contains 1–4 small seeds
• Seeds are dispersed by water and possibly by waterfowl
Habitat:
• Edges of ponds, lakes, and slow-moving streams
• Swamps, marshes, and wet meadows
• Ditches and floodplain forests
• Typically found in water 2–15 cm deep or in waterlogged mud
• Prefers partial shade but tolerates full sun in consistently wet conditions
Ecological Role:
• Provides shelter and habitat for aquatic invertebrates, amphibians, and small fish
• Flower spikes attract a variety of pollinators, including small bees, flies, and beetles
• Seeds and rhizomes are consumed by waterfowl and muskrats
• Dense root systems help stabilize shorelines and reduce erosion
• Plays a role in nutrient cycling in wetland ecosystems
Associated Species:
• Often found growing alongside other wetland plants such as pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata), arrowhead (Sagittaria spp.), blue flag iris (Iris versicolor), and various sedges (Carex spp.)
Light:
• Partial shade to full sun
• Performs best with at least 4–6 hours of sunlight per day
• In hotter climates, afternoon shade helps prevent leaf scorch
Water & Soil:
• Requires consistently wet to submerged conditions; ideal water depth is 2–15 cm
• Tolerates still or slow-moving water
• Prefers rich, loamy, organic soils
• Can be planted directly in pond margins, bog gardens, or containers submerged in water features
Temperature & Hardiness:
• USDA Hardiness Zones 4–11
• Extremely cold-hardy; rhizomes survive freezing winters beneath ice
• Goes dormant in winter, dying back to the rhizome; re-emerges in spring
Propagation:
• Division of rhizomes in early spring is the easiest and most reliable method
• Stem cuttings can be rooted in moist soil or water
• Seeds can be sown in moist soil but germination is slow and less reliable
• Spreads readily via rhizomes and can form large colonies over time
Maintenance:
• Generally pest- and disease-free
• May become aggressive in small ponds; contain by planting in submerged pots or bordered bog areas
• Remove spent flower spikes if self-seeding is not desired
• Cut back dead foliage in late fall or early spring
Fun Fact
Lizard's Tail belongs to one of the most ancient lineages of flowering plants. The family Saururaceae is considered a "living fossil" among angiosperms — its members retain primitive features such as the absence of a perianth (petals and sepals), numerous stamens, and apocarpous gynoecium (unfused carpels), characteristics that closely resemble those of the earliest flowering plants. The disjunct distribution of the genus Saururus — with one species in North America and one in East Asia — is a botanical mystery that has fascinated scientists for centuries. This pattern is shared by dozens of plant genera (e.g., Magnolia, Liriodendron, Hamamelis) and is believed to reflect the once-continuous forests that spanned the Northern Hemisphere during the Tertiary period, before continental drift, climate change, and glaciation fragmented these populations. Indigenous peoples of North America, including the Cherokee and Iroquois, used Lizard's Tail rhizomes medicinally to treat a variety of ailments, including inflammation, fevers, and snakebites. The aromatic rhizomes were also chewed as a breath freshener and used as a flavoring agent. The pendulous flower spike of Lizard's Tail is not merely ornamental — its drooping posture may help protect the small flowers from rain, which could wash away pollen and disrupt pollination in these wind- and insect-pollinated flowers.
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