Plant Min Zone: 3a
Plant Max Zone: 9a
Sunlight: Full Sun, Part Sun, Shade, Deep Shade
Water / Rainfall: High, Very High
Soil Quality: Rich
Bloom Season: Summer, Late Summer, Fall
Flower Color: White
Berry / Fruit Color: Green
Spring Foliage Color: Green
Summer Foliage Color: Green
Fall Foliage Color: Green
Evergreen Foliage: No
Winter Interest: No
Scented Flowers: No
Drought Tolerance: Low
Wet-Feet Tolerance: High
Humidity Tolerance: High
Wind Tolerance: Low
Poor Soil Tolerance: Clay Soils
Height: 1.5' - 2.5'
Width: 2' - 4'
Growth Rate: Medium, Fast
Service Life: Very Long: 10-20 years
Maintenance Need: Medium
Spreading Potential: High
Yearly Trimming Tips: Trim Dead Growth off Water Garden Plants at any Time of the Year or During Winter.
Plant Grouping Size: Specimen Planting of 1-3
Best Side of House: South Exposure, West Exposure, East Exposure, North Exposure
Extreme Planting Locations: Tolerates Periods of Standing Water
Ornamental Features: Long Blooming Season
Special Landscape Uses: Erosion Control
Possible Pest Problems: None
Plant Limitations: Aggressive Rhizomes / Runners, Needs Regular Irrigation
Lizards Tail Water Plant (Saururus cernuus) is a herbaceous perennial that features clean green foliage and white flowers that bloom in the summer months. Leaves are heart-shaped (cordate) and alternate along the stem of the plant. When the leaves are crushed they release a citrus or sassafras aroma. The native range covers much of the eastern United States including eastern Kansas. This plant is often grown as a marginal aquatic plant in standing water or as a potted plant in water gardens. It can also grow as a bog plant needing constantly moist soil rich in organic matter. As a rain garden plant, it will thrive is a depressed area in the landscape that collects rain water from a roof during spring and summer periods of rain but then go dormant if the water hole dries out completely. It may also be grown in average garden soils provided extra water is supplied during droughts. For the home garden, the species is generally too aggressive to mix with other plants. This can also be a problem in a water garden if you fail to divide this plant after several years. Lizard's Tail is a rare water garden plant that can also tolerate shading by larger trees.