Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)

Field Horsetail

(Equisetum arvense)

MPF

CC BY-SA 3.0

Image By: MPF

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Copyright Notice: Photo by: MPF | License Type: CC BY-SA 3.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0 | Uploader: MPF | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Equisetum_arvense_foliage.jpg | Notes: *Beschreibung: Winterling *Quelle: selbst erstellt *Fotograf: gaucho *Copyright Status: GNU-FDL Freie Dokumentationslizenz {{GFDL}} [[category:flower]] |

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Equisetum arvense, commonly known as Field Horsetail, is an evergreen perennial herb that is native to a variety of habitats including moist woodlands, riverbanks, and grasslands across the Northern Hemisphere. It is characterized by its slender, green, jointed stems that resemble the tail of a horse, hence the common name. Field Horsetail typically grows between 10 to 50 cm tall and spreads through an extensive network of rhizomes. This plant is unique in that it absorbs silicon from the soil, which is incorporated into its tissues, giving the stems a rough texture. Equisetum arvense is a non-flowering plant that reproduces via spores produced in cone-like structures at the tips of certain stems during spring.

Field Horsetail is known for its ability to thrive in a wide range of conditions, from cold to warm temperatures and from dry to wet environments. It is often used for its architectural appearance in water gardens and boggy areas. However, due to its aggressive growth habit and invasive potential, it should be planted with caution and may require management to prevent it from overtaking other plants. In cultivation, it prefers full sun but can tolerate part shade, and it grows best in moist, well-drained soils with a high organic content. While it can be a problematic weed, it has been used historically for its medicinal properties and as an abrasive due to its high silica content.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Herb
Height: 2-6 feet
Width: 1-6 feet
Growth Rate: Rapid
Flower Color: N/A
Flowering Season: Spring
Leaf Retention: Evergreen

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: High
Drainage: Fast, Medium, Slow

Common Uses

Deer Resistant, Edible*Disclaimer: Easyscape's listed plant edibility is for informational use. Always verify the safety and proper identification of any plant before consumption., Water Garden

Natural Habitat

Moist woodlands, riverbanks, and grasslands across the Northern Hemisphere

Other Names

Common Names: Common Horsetail , Ager-Padderok , Ackerschachtelhalm , Acker-Schachtelhalm , Akerschachtelhalm , Cola De Caballo , Peltokorte , Prêle Des Champs , Åkersnelle , Heermoes

Scientific Names: Equisetum arvense , Equisetum arvense var. arvense , Equisetum arvense var. campestre , Equisetum arvense f. alpestre , Equisetum arvense f. arvense , Equisetum arvense var. serotinum , Equisetum arvense var. riparium , Allostelites arvense , Equisetum arvense var. decumbens , Equisetum arvense var. duffortianum

GBIF Accepted Name: Equisetum arvense L.