Saururus Cernuus (Lizard's Tail)

A marginal plant, happiest with its head above water. Saururus cernuus — Lizard's Tail — grows broad heart-shaped leaves on upright arching stems, and it belongs in the wet transitional zone rather than fully submerged: paludariums, ripariums, Wabi-Kusa and shallow margins. Grown emersed it may throw the drooping white flower spike the common name refers to.

What You'll Receive

Available in three convenient planting formats to suit your aquatic or semi-aquatic design:

• Fresh-Cut Plants: Approx. 3–4 loose, fresh-cut stems without roots
• Bunched Plants: Approx. 3–4 fresh-cut stems bundled with plant weight for easy placement
• Potted Plants: Approx. 3–4 fresh-cut stems potted in rockwool within a net pot

Plant Profile

• Common name — Lizard's Tail
• Scientific name — Saururus cernuus
• Also known as — Heartleaf, Swamp Lily, Water Dragon
• Origin — North America
• Placement — Paludarium, riparium and marginal zones; midground if submerged
• Shipped size — Approx. 3–4 stems, usually emersed-grown
• Mature height — 6–14 in
• Suits — 10 gallons and up
• Growth rate — Medium

Care

• Difficulty — Beginner
• Light — Low to medium
• CO₂ — Not required
• Water — 65–78°F · pH 6.0–7.5, soft to moderately hard
• Substrate — Required. Root feeder — wet soil, nutrient substrate or rockwool
• Growth habit — Amphibious. Strongly prefers emersed or shallow marginal growth
• Propagation — Stem cuttings, or division of the underground rhizome

Grower's Notes

• It is a marginal plant, not a submerged one. Saururus grows at the water's edge with its roots wet and its leaves in air. Fully submerged it survives but stays smaller and slower, and the broad heart-shaped leaves that make it worth buying develop best above the waterline. Plan it into a paludarium or riparium rather than a standard tank.
• Arriving stock is emersed-grown, so a submerged planting will drop its first leaves as it converts. Judge it on the growth that follows.
• Give it a fed substrate. It roots strongly and feeds through those roots — liquid dosing alone gives thin pale growth.
• It spreads by underground rhizome as well as by cuttings, so an established clump quietly widens rather than staying in one spot.
• In an open-top or riparium setup it can flower — a slender white spike that curves over, which is where 'Lizard's Tail' comes from.

Notes

• Photos shown are sample representations only. Plants may arrive in emersed form and adapt once planted. We do not guarantee plants are free from pests or pesticides unless otherwise specified.
• Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.

At a glance

• Free shipping on orders of $150 or more (after discounts) within the contiguous United States, by USPS.
• Free thermal protection is included with every shipment, all year round.
• Processing: most orders leave us within 1 to 2 business days. Tracking is emailed when your order ships.
• USPS (2 to 5 business days) ships Monday through Saturday.
• UPS 2nd Day Air® ships Monday through Wednesday. Order by Tuesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
• UPS Next Day Air® ships Monday through Thursday. Order by Wednesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
• Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and military addresses ship by USPS at a flat rate shown at checkout.
• Weather holds: during extreme heat or cold we may hold live orders until it's safe to ship.
• We ship within the United States only.

Please bring live plants indoors and unpack them the day they arrive. Every live order is covered by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee.

The complete rules, including lost packages and address issues, are in our Shipping Policy. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.

Every live order is backed by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee. If a plant arrives dead, we'll make it right.

How it works

• Tell us within 24 hours of the delivery time on your tracking.
• Send photos of the affected items in their original, unopened packaging, plus a photo of the shipping label, to hello@aquariumplantsfactory.com with your order number.
• We'll make it right with a replacement, store credit or refund for the affected item.

Good to know

• Some melting or yellowing as plants adjust from greenhouse to aquarium life is normal. They regrow from healthy roots and rhizomes.
• Please bring your package indoors and unpack it the day it arrives.
• Free promotional items and shipping charges are not covered.

The complete rules, including what's covered and what voids the guarantee, are in our Returns, Refunds & Live Arrival Guarantee. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.

Please review your state's regulations on restricted plants, as we are committed to not shipping plants that are restricted in your area. Do not release any plants into the wild or waterways, as this can harm local ecosystems by introducing invasive species.

Your cooperation in protecting the environment is appreciated. For continuously updated information, refer to the USDA State Noxious Weed list here.

Thank you for your responsible commitment to environmental preservation.