VANDERMEER

PLANT LIBRARY

Find the perfect plant for your space by browsing through this extensive selection that we typically carry every year.

This library is for information purposes only.

 
perennial

Horsetail

Equisetum hyemale

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Horsetail (Equisetum hyemale) at Vandermeer Nursery

Horsetail foliage

Horsetail foliage

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Horsetail (Equisetum hyemale) at Vandermeer Nursery

Horsetail

Horsetail

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  3 feet

Spread:  4 feet

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade 

Hardiness Zone:  4a

Other Names:  Scouring Rush

Description:

A perfect selection for a wet boggy area of the landscape or at the edge of a pond or stream; masses of towering bamboo-like spikes creates a bold vertical effect that makes an excellent backdrop for a water feature; very low maintenance

Ornamental Features

Horsetail is primarily valued in the garden for its ornamental upright and spreading habit of growth. Its attractive sword-like leaves remain green in colour with pointy white spines throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Horsetail is a dense herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

  • Spreading

Horsetail is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Mass Planting
  • Border Edging
  • General Garden Use
  • Water Gardens
  • Bog Gardens

Planting & Growing

Horsetail will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen!

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in moist to wet soil, and will even tolerate some standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is native to parts of North America. It can be propagated by division.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Massing  Edging  Garden  Bog  Water 
Applications
Foliage Color  Plant Form 
Ornamental Features

** Plants listed may not be in stock at all times. **

Please contact us directly for current stock availability.
 
Our inventory varies seasonally and we cannot guarantee that every plant will be in stock at all times. To confirm if we have the plant that you're looking for, please call (905) 427-2525 or e-mail  us at info@vandermeernursery.com.
 
Remember, this library does not include our entire selection. Visit us year-round to check out varieties that may not be listed here!