Horsetails, Scouring Rush

Equisetum hyemale L.

eck-wi-SEE-tum hye-uh-MAY-lee

Ferns

Explanation of name: From Latin equus, horse, and saeta, meaning bristle or hair (HUX). The specific epithet means “of winter” and refers to this plant’s evergreen nature.  The common name “scouring rush” is derived from applications as primitive scrubbing tools, thanks to silica deposits on the stems (NE5, HUX).

Natural range: Throughout the state of Florida, but in scattered locales, and often in disturbed sandy, wet  areas (TOB). Also in Eurasia (HUX).

Natural habitat: Floodplains, ditches, lake edges (TOB) marshes, riverbanks and bars (NE4)

Recognition: Upright herbaceous perennial with an erect, hollow, (usually) unbranched stem. The stems are rough to the touch due to silica deposits. Conspicuous black joints are ringed with “leaves” that have been reduced to brown/white scale-like structures. Horsetails achieve heights of 1-4 feet and are individually rather narrow plants, but spread by rhizomes to create dense stands or colonies in wet soil or standing water (NE4). Spores are borne at the tips of the stems in cone-like structures called strobili (TOB).

Landscape uses: Equisetum species are interesting and attractive but should be used judiciously in a garden setting; their rapid growth and almost indefinite spread will make them difficult to keep in check. Their unique architecture lends itself to specimen or focal point planting in a home landscape, but this is perhaps best done in containers. For water feature plantings, one may submerge containers of horsetails, but be certain to keep the lip of the container above the surface to prevent escape. NE4 suggests the same characteristics that might make Equisetum a pest in some situations make them ideal plants for erosion control or bank stabilization.

Potentially confused species: Umbrella Sedge (Fuirena scirpoidea) a is a superficially similar sedge but has flowers; its stems are not hollow and not ribbed, and it has no strobilus.*

Other: Silicone granules roughen the stem.  Early settlers used the plant as a tool for cleaning, mainly scrubbing, hence the common name Scouring Rush.*

*Contributed by: Ryan Agnew