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Horsetail

Equisetum hyemale

Other common name(s):

Scouring-rush Horsetail, Scouring Rush, Canuela

Family:

Equisetaceae (Horsetail Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Chihuahuan Deserts, Cross Timbers, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Low Mountains and Bajadas
Eastern Cross Timbers, Grand Prairie
Edwards Plateau Woodland
Lower Rio Grande Alluvial Floodplain, Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Southern Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Wetland

Height

2
to
3
ft.

Spread

2
to
3
ft.

Leaf Retention

Evergreen

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Limestone, Poor Drainage

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Water Requirement

Medium

Native Habitat

Wetland or Riparian

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

No Bloom

Bloom Season

No Bloom

Seasonal Interest

Unknown

Wildlife Benefit

Unknown

Maintenance

It is best to plant in a container with no holes and be watchful that it doesn’t creep over the edge. It spreads easily. Set up a pond or a water collection tank near a downspout to supplement water. Propagation: Root division.

Comments

Common scouring rush is a spreading, reed-like plant. A dense stand of scouring rush along the margin of an ornamental pool can be very attractive and will exclude weeds. Like other Pteridophytes (ferns and their relatives), scouring rush does not produce flowers or seeds. It can grow in shallow water or moist soil.

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 375. 3) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=EQHY. 4) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Equisetum+hyemale&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 5) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=9613&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 6) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=17154#null.

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State Office Phone: 830.997.9272

State Office Address:
Native Plant Society of Texas
PO Box 3017
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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