Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

scouring-rush, horsetail

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Equisetum hyemale var. affine

Family:

Equisetaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

grass

Size:

2-4 ft tall by 0.1 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

Fruit Color:

Phenology:

evergreen

Noted For:

Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Water gardens, edges of retention ponds, rain gardens or bioswales.

Considerations:

This plant will spread.

Availability:

Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales

Propagation:

Division

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Aquatic ---to--- Usually moist, occasional inundation

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Loam

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Provides good cover at the edges of waterways or ponds.

Native Habitats:

Sandy soils in river floodplains, lake edges, ditches, sloughs.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Its tough stems were used to scour pots and pans.

General Comments:

Leaves are very small and arranged in circles around the stem at each node giving it a banded appearance. This is a fern ally and reproduces by spores.