Equisetum hyemale, commonly called horsetail or scouring rush, is a striking and ancient perennial with upright jointed green stems and a bamboo like appearance. It spreads vigorously by rhizomes and thrives in consistently moist to wet soils, making it ideal for naturalistic plantings near water.
Height & Spread: 24 - 36 in x 12 - 18 in (spreads indefinitely if not contained)
Bloom Time: Non flowering (reproduces via spores)
Light Requirements: Full sun to part shade
Soil Preference: Wet, mucky, or saturated soils; tolerates seasonal flooding
Watering Needs: High; prefers standing water or very moist soil
Deer Resistance: Unpalatable to deer and most herbivores
Native Status
Native to much of North America, particularly in wet meadows, streambanks, and swamps. It is one of the most ancient surviving plant genera, with fossil records dating back over 100 million years.
WILDLIFE & INSECTS
Amphibians
- Provides dense cover and moist habitat for frogs, toads, and salamanders along pond edges and wet ditches.
Birds
- Used by red winged blackbirds, rails, and other wetland birds for nesting cover and shelter near water sources.
Spacing & Landscape Use
Spacing Recommendations
- Space 12 - 18 in apart or plant in contained beds to prevent spreading by underground rhizomes.
Landscape Placement
- Best suited for water gardens, pond margins, bioswales, or rain gardens where aggressive spreading is beneficial. Can be grown in submerged pots to contain roots.
Companion Plants
- Iris versicolor (Blue Flag Iris) - Adds showy blooms and stabilizes wet soils alongside horsetail.
- Caltha palustris (Marsh Marigold) - Offers early yellow flowers in boggy settings with similar moisture needs.
- Acorus calamus (Sweet Flag) - Complements horsetail with swordlike foliage and aromatic presence in wet areas.
- Lobelia siphilitica (Great Blue Lobelia) - Brings vivid blue spikes and attracts pollinators in the same habitat.
- Carex crinita (Fringed Sedge) - Adds fine grasslike texture and supports wildlife in saturated soils.