The common name Lizard's Tail 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 (in containers). Plant in 2 to 5-gallon containers. This plant will form large colonies over time and can be propagated by seed or root division. The flowers, leaves and roots of this plant have a sassafrass or citrus aroma. Emergent wetland plant. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Major insect pests or disease issues do not really occur with this plant.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Frequent Standing Water | Occasional Flooding | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Spreading
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Cordate; Deltoid; Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Fragrant
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
3-6" bright green, lance-shaped to triangular with heart-shaped base. Palmately veined.
Flower color
White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Long, narrow racemes opposite a leaf of nodding 4-6" (they can get as long as 12") spikes. These flowers' tips droop. The white flowers are on the small side, but they are fragrant and a bit showy. In North Carolina, the flowers are available from May to September.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper; Green
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
Green and looks like a wart. In North Carolina, the fruits are available from August to November.