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Lizard's Tail

About Lizard's Tail

Lizard's Tail is an emergent wetland plant. The common name comes from the appearance of the flowers and later the fruit. This plant occurs in swamps and shallow water and can be planted on the pond's edges or in the water. It can be propagated by seed or root division.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Saururus cernuus

Genus

Saururus

Family

Saururaceae

Order

Piperales

Also known as

Water-dragon, Dragon's tail and Swamp root

How to care for Lizard's Tail

💦 Water

How often to water your Lizard's Tail

Lizard's Tail needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Lizard's Tail in your home

Lizard's Tail love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Lizard's Tail does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Lizard's Tail in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Lizard's Tail

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Lizard's Tail: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Lizard's Tail after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Lizard's Tail is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Lizard's Tail requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Lizard's Tail is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

🪴 Soil

Lizard's Tail does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

💩 Fertilizer

Lizard's Tail is a fast growing plant and may deplete the nutrients in its soil over time. Replenish them with a gentle organic fertilizer or compost every 1-2 months depending on your location and season. Fertilize more often during the growing season and in warmer and brighter climates.

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Lizard's Tail grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Lizard's Tail can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 4a-9b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

🌱 Propagation

Lizard's Tail can be propagated by division into new individual plants.

Check to see if there is more than one plant. In some cases they may still be beneath the soil surface. If you feel confident, you may remove the soil to check for baby plantlets below!
If there are multiple plants growing, unpot the plant and gently tug the plants apart, being careful not to disturb too many of the roots. They may be connected by large root segments which you may need to break to free the plantlet.
Pot up the new plant in well-draining soil
Repot the parent plant back into its original pot

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.