Saururus chinensis, commonly known as Asian Lizard’s Tail, is a deciduous perennial herb native to marshy areas, wetlands, and along the edges of streams and ponds in East Asia and Southeast Asia. It typically grows to heights exceeding 1 meter and is characterized by its green, papery, ribbed, densely glandular leaves that are ovate to ovate-lanceolate, measuring (4-)10-20 × (2-)5-10 cm. The plant is notable for its unique flower spikes, which curve gracefully, resembling a lizard’s tail, and bloom in the summer months. These flowers are not particularly showy but add an interesting textural element to water gardens.

Asian Lizard’s Tail is valued for its ability to thrive in wet conditions and is often used in water gardens, bog gardens, and for naturalizing in damp areas. It prefers full sun to part shade and requires high amounts of water, often growing well in soils that are consistently moist or even have standing water. It is relatively low maintenance but may spread aggressively in ideal conditions. Gardeners should be aware of its potential to become invasive in some regions outside its native range.CC BY-SA 4.0