Click on any image to open the slideshow
Saururus cernuus L.
Lizard's Tail
Florida native
A common herbaceous plant of freshwater marshes and swamps throughout nearly all of Florida. The range extends through most of the eastern United States mainly east of the Mississippi but also extending in the south west into Texas to Kansas. Not occurring in Vermont, New Hampshire or Maine. Also found in Ontario and Quebec.
Lizard's tail grows up to 1m (~3 ft.) tall, frequently with reddish stems. The heart-shaped leaves are alternate and stalked with entire margins. The white flower spikes are in narrow, drooping racemes. The individual flowers lack petals, sepals or bracts and usually have 6 to 8 stamens, but as few as 3.
Saururus cernuus is a member of the Saururaceae - Lizard's Tail family.
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species
iNaturalist profile for this species
USDA Plant Profile for this species
Date record last modified: Mar 27, 2026
