Plant Profiles

Saururus cernuus

Live freshwater plant Saururus cernuus - Lizard's tail for fish tanks and aquariums Large bunch or portion of aquatic plant Saururus cernuus - Lizard's tail. Aquarium plant with fast delivery across Australia.
Saururus cernuus
Lizard's tail
$14.95

Saururus cernuus, also known as Lizard's tail, is an uncommon but very attractive plant that is coldwater tolerant and suitable for aquariums and ponds.

It can perhaps best be thought of almost like a cross between a Lobelia and Anubias. It should be used in a similar way to Lobelia Cardinalis 'Mini', where its bright green heart-shaped, Anubias-like leaves will make it stand out. In aquariums, this is a slow-growing plant, and has only moderate needs that it requires in order to grow well.

One of the unique features of Saururus cernuus is its ability to tolerate a wide range of environmental conditions. It can grow in cold water temperatures between 4-27°C and is really hardy, making it suitable for outdoor ponds where it can even tolerate frost. Additionally, it is not particularly fussy about water hardness, with a range of 5-15°dKH, and pH levels between 6-8. This makes it a low maintenance plant that can thrive in a variety of conditions. Submersed however, it is moderately demanding in that it needs higher light and CO2 addition. This will produce healthier growth and more vibrant colouration.

In its submerged form, Saururus cernuus has much smaller leaves than its emersed form, and the stems generally grow directly upward without much branching. The plant features horizontally arranged, alternating leaves growing on low upright stems. This makes it an excellent choice for aquariums where space is limited, and it can be used as a foreground or mid-ground plant.

Saururus cernuus is a surprisingly underrated aquarium and pond plant that can add a unique and attractive touch to any aquatic setup. Its cold tolerance and hardiness make it a low maintenance option for those looking to add some greenery to their outdoor ponds, while its interesting leaves make it an excellent choice for bright, coldwater aquariums and high-tech aquascapes.

Requirements and information

Temperature:
TropicalWarmCold

Substrate type:
CoarseFine

Substrate nutrients:

Medium

Water nutrients:

Medium

Light demand:

High

CO2:

Medium

Height:

Tall

Growth rate:

Slow

Growth habit:

Stem

Difficulty:

Intermediate

Native to: