Equisetum

(Equisetaceae - horsetail family)

Horsetail; scouring rush. About 35 species of perennial herbs, widely distributed except in Australia and New Zealand. With their green, jointed stems, horsetails somewhat resemble bamboo plants. The gritty, stems, which contain silica, were formerly used as pot cleaners, and are still sometimes used for polishing applications where a very fine abrasive is required. The following species are suited to moist or wet soils, will tolerate partial shade, and spread by means of their root systems.

hyemale robustum

evgrn peren • ht 3-8' • zones 4-10

giant scouring rush

native, moist - wet, sun - shade
e N Amer

A large, vigorous form with upright, bamboo-like stems. A point of interest is that the stems, when struck at a low angle by early morning or late afternoon sunlight, appear to glow from within, in a Japanese-lantern like fashion. Decidedly exotic looking, although it is actually a native.

cat # 0W9H
$12.95 each

hyemale

evgrn peren • ht 2-3' • zones 4-10

common scouring rush

native, moist - wet, sun - shade
e N Amer

Stems are upright, green, slender, bamboo-like.

cat # 0W9E
$8.95 each

scirpoides

evgrn peren • ht 6" • zones 4-10

dwarf scouring rush

native, moist - wet, sun - shade, rock garden
N Amer

Low-growing, with very slender stems (but stems still have the bamboo-like joints which are characteristic of horsetails). Will spread slowly, under favorable conditions, to form a dense mat. The smallest living horsetail species.

cat # 0W9S
$7.95 each