Saururus cernuus

Saururus cernuus, also known as lizard's tail, inhabits the east and southeast of the USA, where it grows in the shallow water zones of ditches, ponds, bogs and rivulets. In nature it is only rarely found to grow totally submersed.

This herbaceous bog plant has long been used in Dutch-style tanks and it is readily available in trade - give that you know where to look for it, as it is often sold as a pond plant.

S. cernuus is easy to cultivate and has only moderate requirements that have to be fulfilled for it in order to grow well. Light should be intensive, and the plant needs a constant CO2 supply for maximum growth and large leaves. The addition of nitrate, phosphate and micronutrients with a liquid fertiliser furthers its overall health and vitality, even though it is robust enough to exist without fertilisation. The leaves grow quite slowly, which is the reason why they tend to have spot algae. This problem may be remedied by keeping the phosphate level high. Even though S. cernuus might be a little finicky as submersed plant, its emersed cultivation on the edges of ponds is extremely simple. Just make sure to keep it in check, as it forms subterranean runners that spread very fast.

The submersed growth habit of Saururus cernuus is straight, and the plant breaks the water surface quickly if allowed to grow that far up. In the aquarium, it does not form a big root system. If the submersed plant does not throw lateral shoots or runners, it is cut into small pieces for propagation. Just letz them float in the water, they will develop into new plantlets after a very short time. Another method is to replant top cuttings in the substrate, which you get when trimming the plant. Thus you can grow dense plant streets in no time.

S. cernuus used to be a very popular choice for Dutch-style tanks due to its slow growth and modifyable growth. Besides Lobelia cardinalis it was the most popular stem plant for planting the so-called Leiden streets, where its large heart-shaped leaves contrasted beautifully against neighbouring plants. It is also a popular Nature Aquarium plant where it is mainly used as contrast against fine-leaved Eleocharis species.