My favorite plant this month, June

Lizard’s tail (Saururus cernuus)

Lizard's tail growing in pots in a small fish pond.

Lizard’s tail gets it’s name from the white drooping flower stalk you can find June through September. The flowers attract small insects like bees, flies, and beetles. It’s arrow-shaped leaves grow on emergent stems that can grow to two feet tall. Lizard’s tail colonizes wet soil. This plant likes moist conditions in full to partial sun – pond edges, water gardens, rain gardens. I suggest growing it in a container in your pond to prevent escape.  What makes lizard's tail special to me is the way the plant smells. It has a licorice scent when you break a leaf or disturb the soil, which is a nice break from the anaerobic smells you usually get when messing around with pond plants.