Plant of the Month: Lizard's tail

Saururus cernuus, often called “Lizard’s tail”, is a common herbaceous perennial found at our wetlands monitoring sites and other wetland areas in eastern-to-central North America. They are a native species to this part of the world, and grow primarily in wet or saturated soils, even in shallow waters. As such, it is as an obligate wetland plant in the Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain. If you find it, you are likely in a wetland!

A perennial plant, after its blooming season, the Lizard’s tail will die back, but the roots remain alive until the next growing/blooming season when it grows back out and blooms. 

The Lizard’s tail got its common name from the very distinct droopy, white shape of the flowers that bloom during the summer months, almost resembling a lizard’s tail. The plant can grow up 0.5 -1 meter tall and the cone, or “tail”, can grow to about 3-6 inches long. They typically grow in dense patches, and often can sprout multiple stalks from one set of roots called rhizomes. In the fall, the plant fruits, and the seeds can straighten out.