ExplorePlants

lizard's tail

Saururus cernuus

Lizard's tail is a unique plant with long, green leaves that look like a lizard's tail! It grows in wet places and has pretty white flowers that bloom in the summer.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The lizard's tail has heart-shaped, vibrant green leaves and distinctive, slender white flower spikes that often droop or nod at the tip. These fuzzy 'tails' can be quite fragrant and resemble a lizard's tail, giving the plant its common name.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderPiperalesFamilySaururaceaeGenusSaururus
lizard's tail
deciduous trait badgeflowering trait badgesummer_blooming trait badgefragrant_flower trait badge
lizard's tail

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

30

Interesting facts

Its unique flower spike actually looks and feels like a soft, fuzzy white pipe cleaner!

Native Americans used its leaves to make soothing poultices for aches and skin irritations.

The young leaves and rhizomes are edible, adding a peppery and spicy taste to dishes!

This plant is a 'living fossil', with relatives found across the globe in East Asia!

Special abilities

Ability

Water Purifier

Lizard's tail can absorb heavy metals like lead from wetland soil, helping to clean its watery home.

Ability

Colonization King

Lizard's tail has creeping rhizomes that help it spread quickly, forming dense colonies in wet environments.

Ability

Flood Fighter

Lizard's tail can survive in waterlogged soil and even shallow standing water, thriving where many plants drown.

Measurements & details

Height
60-120 cm
Spread
30-90 cm
Flower Size
10-20 cm
Bloom Season
Summer
Edible
Yes
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

honey bee

Apis mellifera

provides nectar and pollen for foraging bees

eats

mallard duck

Anas platyrhynchos

ducks sometimes graze on its leaves and seeds

shelters

green tree frog

Hyla cinerea

dense foliage offers cover for amphibians

shelters

Ohio river shrimp

Macrobrachium ohione

provides shelter in submerged root masses

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify lizard's tail?

The easiest way to identify lizard's tail is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

How tall is lizard's tail?

60-120 cm

How wide does lizard's tail spread?

30-90 cm

How big are the flowers on lizard's tail?

10-20 cm

When does lizard's tail bloom?

Summer

Is lizard's tail edible?

Yes

Is lizard's tail toxic?

None

What is lizard's tail's lifecycle?

Perennial

Snap Map

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