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.
