Saururus cernuus
swamp lily
Producing clumps of heart-shaped, deep green leaves, and from June to August, cylindrical, nodding spikes of subtly fragrant, creamy-white flowers, Saururus cernuus is ideal for planting around the shallow margins of a pond.
Potentially invasive if given free rein, lizard's tail or swamp lily is best contained in an aquatic planting basket, top-dressed with pea shingle or gravel.
Choose the 9cm pots for planting above the water line as this contains our peat-free compost mix, or choose our aquatic pot range planting at or beneath the water's surface.
Potentially invasive if given free rein, lizard's tail or swamp lily is best contained in an aquatic planting basket, top-dressed with pea shingle or gravel.
Choose the 9cm pots for planting above the water line as this contains our peat-free compost mix, or choose our aquatic pot range planting at or beneath the water's surface.
How to care for Saururus cernuus:
Grow in boggy soil, still or slow moving water up to 2-10cm (1-4in) deep. Plants benefit from a hard clipping back after blooming, to rejuvenate the foliage. Lift and divide large clumps in early spring before the plant has flowered. To limit the plant's spread restrict it in an aquatic plant basket and remove unwanted growth in early spring before flowering.
For wet or boggy soil conditions, choose our 9cm pot option and plant into deep, consistently moist ground at the edge of a bog garden or damp border. Enrich the soil with compost and keep it wet at all times, especially in summer, as the plant thrives in saturated conditions.
For shallow pond margins, pick our aquatic planting basket option which uses a loam-based aquatic compost. After planting, add a 2.5cm (1in) layer of pea shingle or gravel on top to stop soil dispersing into the water. Position the basket so the crown sits just above the waterline or with no more than a few centimetres of water over the soil.
Water marginal plants regularly until well rooted, and keep pond-grown plants topped up to maintain a stable water level.
For wet or boggy soil conditions, choose our 9cm pot option and plant into deep, consistently moist ground at the edge of a bog garden or damp border. Enrich the soil with compost and keep it wet at all times, especially in summer, as the plant thrives in saturated conditions.
For shallow pond margins, pick our aquatic planting basket option which uses a loam-based aquatic compost. After planting, add a 2.5cm (1in) layer of pea shingle or gravel on top to stop soil dispersing into the water. Position the basket so the crown sits just above the waterline or with no more than a few centimetres of water over the soil.
Water marginal plants regularly until well rooted, and keep pond-grown plants topped up to maintain a stable water level.
Flowering period:
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Eventual height:
1.5m
Eventual spread:
0.5m
Position:
Full sun / light shade
Rate of growth:
Fast-growing
Soil:
Aquatic / Reliably damp or boggy
Hardiness:
Fully hardy
-
This pond plant dies right back in autumn, then fresh new growth appears again in spring.
-
CAUTION toxic if eaten/skin & eye irritant
