Lizard’s tail
Saururus cernuus
Saururaceae


Landscape Uses:

Water gardens and along pond and lake edges.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

Availability:
Grown by one or two native plant nurseries in South Florida.
Description:
Medium herbaceous wildflower.
Height:
About 1-2 feet in height. Usually spreading and forming patches broader than tall.
Growth Rate:
Moderate.
Range:
Eastern and central North America west to Texas and south to Miami-Dade County and the Monroe County mainland. Not documented on barrier islands in South Florida, but possibly historically present; it grows well at Pan’s Garden in Palm Beach.
Habitats:
Marshes and swamps.
Soils:
Wet, poorly-drained organic soils.
Nutritional Requirements:
High; requires rich organic soils for optimal growth.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance:
Low; requires moist to wet soils and is intolerant of long periods of drought.
Light Requirements:
Light shade to moderate shade or full sun.
Flower Color:
White.
Flower Characteristics:
Showy.
Flowering Season:
Spring-summer.
Fruit:
Inconspicuous indehiscent carpels.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Provides food for birds.
Horticultural Notes:
Comments:
See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's Flower Friday page.


Roger L. Hammer
George D. Gann
George D. Gann
Shirley Denton
Shirley Denton
Shirley Denton
Shirley Denton
Keith A. Bradley

Susan Lerner, cultivated at Pan's Garden, Town of Palm Beach, Florida, USA.