Lizard's Tail (Saururus cernuus) is in the lizard's tail family family (Saururaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,307 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in June.
Nationally it blooms mainly from April to July, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Lizard's Tail: observations by month (U.S.)
About Lizard's Tail
Saururus cernuus (lizard's tail, water-dragon, swamp root) is a medicinal and ornamental plant native to eastern North America. It grows in wet areas or shallow water, and can be up to about a meter tall. The native range covers much of the eastern United States, as far west as eastern Texas and Kansas, south to Florida, and north to Michigan and New York state, slightly into Ontario.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Lizard's Tail by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 193 | April | Mar–May |
| Louisiana | 162 | April | Apr–Apr |
| Mississippi | 151 | May | May–Jun |
| Virginia | 98 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Alabama | 87 | May | May–Jun |
| North Carolina | 86 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Maryland | 76 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Georgia | 59 | May | Apr–Jun |
| South Carolina | 59 | May | May–May |
| Texas | 52 | May | May–Jun |
| Ohio | 38 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Pennsylvania | 38 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Indiana | 34 | July | Jun–Jul |
| New York | 33 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Kentucky | 30 | June | Jun–Jul |
| Arkansas | 22 | June | May–Jun |
| New Jersey | 18 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Tennessee | 16 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Delaware | 15 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Missouri | 12 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Illinois | 9 | July | Jun–Jul |
| West Virginia | 7 | July | Jul–Jul |
| District of Columbia | 6 | June | Jun–Jul |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Lizard's Tail?
Nationally, June has the most observations, with the main season from April to July.
Where is Lizard's Tail most often seen?
The most observations come from Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi.