Lizard's Tail Saururus cernuus Pictures and illustrations copyright by University of Florida Tail Pix 18.2 kb Line Drawing, 102 kb Lizard's tail is a common emersed plant and it grows into small colonies from underground runners. The erect plant typically grows one to two feet tall, in ditches, swamps, marshes, and other wetlands. Lizard's tail has medium sized, deep green attractive leaves, that can be arrowhead shaped or heart shaped, about 1 1/2 inches wide, and three to four inches long. However, the primary reason for growing this plant is the display of the unusual flower heads which appear between June and August at the top of slender stems. The flowered is  a bottle brush spike of white flowers that are slightly fragrant and curled at the end. The flower spike arches above the leaves of the plant, and it is typically six to eight inches long but can be longer. After maturity, the flowers become a string of nutlets that resemble a lizard's tail. (See picture link at left.) Height: 1-2 ft.  Water Depth: 1 to 4 inches over crown of plant.  How to grow: It is an invasive plant, so grow it in a container instead of bank planting to keep it under control. Plant  in a medium pot. Propagation: By division of clumps or stem cuttings in spring.  Hardy zones 4-11.