Horsetail

Horsetail

Horsetail (Equisetum hyemale). Photo by Vic Ramey ©2001, University of Florida.

Horsetail is an ancient plant that dates back millions of years. Today, it's often a unique architectural focal plant for modern gardens.

This perennial plant is easily recognized by its hollow, thin, bamboo-like stems. The stems have fine vertical ridges, almost like a Greek column. Kids love pulling apart the segmented stems one piece at a time.

Two species of horsetail are native to Florida and naturally found in wet areas. These evergreen plants grow up to three feet tall and will spread quickly under the right conditions.

In home gardens, horsetail is often planted alone in contemporary containers. It can also be planted in water gardens, though you may want to keep it in a pot so that it doesn't spread too agressively.

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