Lizard's tail (Saururus chinensis)

Overview

Saururus chinensis, widely known as Lizard’s tail, is a stunning herbaceous perennial perfectly suited for wet environments where few other plants thrive. This native of Eastern Asia offers visual interest not only through its dense, spike-like flower clusters but also via its attractive, ribbed foliage, sometimes featuring white splotches. Its low maintenance requirements make it an excellent choice for ecological gardening projects or water features.

This plant is characterized by its vigorous creeping rhizomes, which allow it to rapidly colonize moist banks and margins, forming attractive colonies. While native to various Asian wetlands, Saururus chinensis adapts well to cultivation in rain gardens, pond edges, or containers submerged in shallow water. The collective appeal of its fragrant blooms and robust wetland nature solidifies its value in specialized landscapes.

Gardeners seeking reliable marginal aquatic plants will appreciate the adaptability of Lizard’s tail. It tolerates a wide range of light conditions, from full sun to heavy shade, provided its soil remains consistently wet. Establishing colonies of Saururus chinensis is straightforward, offering structural interest and unique flower spikes throughout the summer growing season.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Saururaceae
• Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
• Native Range: Eastern Asia
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 4-9
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 1-3 ft
  • Spread: 1-3 ft
• Bloom Time: June to August
• Bloom Description: White to yellowish white
• Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
• Water Needs: Wet
• Maintenance Level: Low

How to Grow

The best time to establish Saururus chinensis is when weather warms, placing rhizomes or starter plants directly into the saturated environment they prefer. For water gardens, plant in containers set in shallow water, ideally no deeper than six inches over the crown. For natural ponds, position rhizomes along the muddy margins under slight submersion or directly into boggy soil areas.

Care for Lizard’s tail is generally hands-off once established. It thrives in wet soils and actively growing in shallow water, negating the need for supplemental watering unless drought affects the pond or rain garden significantly. Fertilizer is rarely necessary, as these plants extract sufficient nutrients from rich, muddy substrates. Deadheading is usually unnecessary, allowing the flower spikes to finish their natural cycle.

Because of its spreading nature, monitor the rhizomes if you desire a contained planting. Unrestrained growth leads to dense colonies, which is often the desired effect for stabilizing pond edges or filling rain garden areas. In late winter or early spring, clear away any accumulated leaf debris before new growth emerges from the rhizomes.

Landscape Uses

Saururus chinensis excels in aquatic and damp settings, making it a premier choice for Water Plants and Naturalization projects. Its preference for wet soil allows it to serve as an excellent structural plant along the fringes of ornamental pools or in constructed bog areas where moisture is guaranteed. It creates a dense, lush green texture framing open water elements.

For homeowners without natural ponds, this plant is fantastic for Rain Gardens or placement at the edge of drainage trenches where water collects temporarily. It establishes well in tubs or containers, allowing gardeners in drier climates to control its intense water requirements easily, provided the submerged containers are kept full. Consider grouping Lizard’s tail with other moisture-loving marginals like Caltha or Iris for layered visual appeal.

Use the colonizing habit of Saururus chinensis to help stabilize stream banks or wetland margins naturally. Its reliability in heavy shade also allows it to brighten darker, perpetually damp corners of the landscape where standard perennials struggle to perform.

Standout Features

Flower Qualities

• Showy
• Fragrant

Noteworthy Characteristics

Saururus chinensis, commonly called lizard’s tail, is a deciduous, marginal aquatic perennial with creeping rhizomes that typically grows to 24-36” tall in the wild. Papery, distinctively ribbed, densely glandular, green leaves up to 7” long feature acute apices and cordate bases, sometimes displaying attractive white splotches. Minute, spicily fragrant, ivory-white to yellowish-white flowers bloom in early to mid-summer in tapered, spike-like racemes, which resemble a lizard’s tail, giving the plant its common name.

Tolerances

• Rabbit
• Deer
• Heavy Shade
• Wet Soil

Potential Problems

Saururus chinensis demonstrates excellent resilience, boasting no serious insect or disease problems under its preferred wet growing conditions. The primary management issue revolves around controlling its vigorous rhizomatous spread rather than fighting pests or pathogens. If over-aggressive spreading occurs, simply divide the clumps during the dormant season or restrict root growth via submerged edging materials.

If grown in conditions that are too airy or dry (which should be avoided), the foliage may become less vibrant. Ensure that its designated spot mimics its native environment—constantly moist or submerged—to maintain peak health and rapid growth of Saururus chinensis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Lizard’s tail suitable for?

Lizard’s tail (Saururus chinensis) is reliably hardy across USDA Zones 4 through 9.

How large does Saururus chinensis grow?

This perennial typically reaches heights between 1 to 3 feet tall, spreading to match its height in moist conditions.

When does Lizard’s tail bloom?

Saururus chinensis produces its distinctive white to yellowish-white blooms consistently from June through August.

What sun exposure does Saururus chinensis need?

It is very adaptable, thriving in full sun but also performing well under part shade; it can even flower reliably in heavy shade if moisture is constant.

Conclusion

The reliability and unique aesthetic of Saururus chinensis make it an indispensable plant for water features and saturated garden areas. Enjoy the showy, fragrant summer spikes of Lizard’s tail while benefiting from its low-maintenance, rhizomatous spread control. Before planting, confirm your location falls within USDA Zones 4-9 to ensure seasonal success throughout the growing range.

Companion Planting

When designing a water garden or robust rain garden around Saururus chinensis, choose companions that share its affinity for wet feet and similar light requirements. Good partners include Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata), which offers contrasting leaf texture and blue spires. For edging areas that only see constant dampness rather than full submersion, try Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) or various moisture-loving ferns.

This grouping strategy ensures all plants benefit from the high water table, creating a unified, low-stress ecological planting that naturally repels deer and rabbits that generally avoid saturated margins. The upright structure of Lizard’s tail serves as an excellent backdrop for shorter bog species.

Propagation Tips

Saururus chinensis is most easily and effectively propagated through division of its creeping rhizomes. This process is best performed in early spring before active growth begins or in the late fall after the foliage begins to die back. Simply lift clumps of the plant and carefully separate sections containing healthy root mass and at least one growth node.

For those looking to increase stock rapidly across a large bog area, the rhizomes of Saururus chinensis can be cut into smaller segments, ensuring each piece has a few viable buds attached. Plant these segments immediately into adequately prepared, muddy substrate, ensuring they are covered by no more than an inch or two of water or saturated soil. Seed starting is possible but significantly slower and less reliable than vegetative propagation.