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Horsetails (Equisetum)
Also known as : Snake grasses
Horsetails comprise a genus of rushlike, jointed perennial herbs. The leaves of many species do not perform photosynthesis and are reduced to sheaths that encircle and clasp the main stem. Horsetails are the only surviving plants in the Equisetopsida family, which was a dominant family of plants in the times of the dinosaurs.
Lifespan
Perennial
Key Facts About Horsetails
Feedback
Attributes of Horsetails
Leaf type
Deciduous
Scientific Classification of Horsetails
Distribution of Horsetails
Feedback
Distribution Map of Horsetails
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
How to Grow and Care for Horsetails
Feedback
Horsetails, often called horsetails, is a hardy plant genus requiring minimal yet mindful care. Basic care needs include bright, indirect light, consistent moisture (comparative to a boggy environment), and organically-rich, well-draining soil. They prefer cool to moderate temperatures. Common challenges usually involve invasive growth, requiring regular pruning. Periodically checking for diseases like root rot and pests such as aphids or scale insects is integral. Seasonally, horsetails benefits from reduced watering in winter and a semi-shade environment in summer.
How to Water Horsetails?
What Are the Sunlight Requirements for Horsetails?
How to Propagate Horsetails?
How to Plant Horsetails?
Exploring the Horsetails Plants
Feedback
8 most common species：
Field horsetail
Field horsetail (Equisetum arvense) grows from moist soils. In the spring it generates brown, non-photosynthetic stems whose whole purpose is to release reproductive spores. Once those stems wither, the plant grows its sterile photosynthetic stem to harvest and store energy for the next growing season. The plant fibers are slightly abrasive, and in the past were used to polish pewter and wooden objects. Ironically, field horsetail is toxic to horses and other livestock.
Giant horsetail
The giant horsetail(Equisetum telmateia) is native to South and Central America. The total height of this plant can range from 2 to 5 m tall, which is one reason for its common name. Some of the slender branches of the giant horsetail have spore cones.
Rough horsetail
Rough horsetail (Equisetum hyemale) is an evergreen perennial. An aggressive grower, it reproduces through spores and is non-flowering. It prefers full sun to partial shade and is pest resistant. It provides erosion control, grows well in wetlands and makes an interesting addition to water gardens. Expected height of 61 to 91 cm.
Woodland horsetail
Woodland horsetail (Equisetum sylvaticum) is a perennial plant species native to North America and Eurasia. Woodland horsetail grows in swampy forest, open woodlands, and meadow areas. This species is considered one of the most attractive species of horsetail.
Dwarf horsetail
The genus name of the dwarf horsetail (Equisetum scirpoides) combines the Latin words for horse ("equus") and "bristle or animal hair" ("seta"). A miniature version of the Common Horsetail, it's a perennial indigenous to America and northern Eurasia.
Water horsetail
An invasive aquatic species, water horsetail is hardy and can easily overwhelm other water plants. This winter-hardy plant grows in shallow water and part to full sun. Due to its high silica content, early peoples used this plant for scouring and sanding.
Marsh horsetail
Marsh horsetail (Equisetum palustre) is an evergreen perennial plant that will grow from 10 to 51 cm tall. It is toxic to animals especially horses and cattle. Commonly found growing in marshes and wet areas it blooms from spring to summer.
Branched scouringrush
Equisetum ramosissimum is also known as branched scouringrush and has two subspecies. It is native to Asia, Europe, Africa, and some Pacific Islands, and has been introduced to some parts of the United States. It produces no leaves, and the stems are covered with silica crystals. This gives them a sandpaper-like quality that people can put to use for all kinds of scouring and smoothing tasks.
All Species of Horsetails
Field horsetail
Field horsetail
Field horsetail (Equisetum arvense) grows from moist soils. In the spring it generates brown, non-photosynthetic stems whose whole purpose is to release reproductive spores. Once those stems wither, the plant grows its sterile photosynthetic stem to harvest and store energy for the next growing season. The plant fibers are slightly abrasive, and in the past were used to polish pewter and wooden objects. Ironically, field horsetail is toxic to horses and other livestock.
Giant horsetail
Giant horsetail
The giant horsetail(Equisetum telmateia) is native to South and Central America. The total height of this plant can range from 2 to 5 m tall, which is one reason for its common name. Some of the slender branches of the giant horsetail have spore cones.
Rough horsetail
Rough horsetail
Rough horsetail (Equisetum hyemale) is an evergreen perennial. An aggressive grower, it reproduces through spores and is non-flowering. It prefers full sun to partial shade and is pest resistant. It provides erosion control, grows well in wetlands and makes an interesting addition to water gardens. Expected height of 61 to 91 cm.
Woodland horsetail
Woodland horsetail
Woodland horsetail (Equisetum sylvaticum) is a perennial plant species native to North America and Eurasia. Woodland horsetail grows in swampy forest, open woodlands, and meadow areas. This species is considered one of the most attractive species of horsetail.
Dwarf horsetail
Dwarf horsetail
The genus name of the dwarf horsetail (Equisetum scirpoides) combines the Latin words for horse ("equus") and "bristle or animal hair" ("seta"). A miniature version of the Common Horsetail, it's a perennial indigenous to America and northern Eurasia.
Water horsetail
Water horsetail
An invasive aquatic species, water horsetail is hardy and can easily overwhelm other water plants. This winter-hardy plant grows in shallow water and part to full sun. Due to its high silica content, early peoples used this plant for scouring and sanding.
Marsh horsetail
Marsh horsetail
Marsh horsetail (Equisetum palustre) is an evergreen perennial plant that will grow from 10 to 51 cm tall. It is toxic to animals especially horses and cattle. Commonly found growing in marshes and wet areas it blooms from spring to summer.
Branched scouringrush
Branched scouringrush
Equisetum ramosissimum is also known as branched scouringrush and has two subspecies. It is native to Asia, Europe, Africa, and some Pacific Islands, and has been introduced to some parts of the United States. It produces no leaves, and the stems are covered with silica crystals. This gives them a sandpaper-like quality that people can put to use for all kinds of scouring and smoothing tasks.
Smooth horsetail
Smooth horsetail
Smooth horsetail (Equisetum laevigatum) is found throughout most of North America. It grows in moist conditions with sandy or gravelly soils. The cones at the top of the shoot contain its spores. By August, the spores have generally been shed and the cones drop off. Smooth horsetail is a descendant of the ancient plants that make up much of Earth's coal deposits.
Meadow horsetail
Meadow horsetail
Meadow horsetail is a large green fern with a segmented stem and fronds growing out of its sides. The name meadow horsetail is a nod to both its preferred habitat and the fact that it resembles a full, fluffed equine tail. Meadow horsetail is toxic if ingested in large quantities.
Branched horsetail
Branched horsetail
Branched horsetail (Equisetum variegatum) is an herbaceous plant native to cooler parts of Europe, Asia, and North America, mostly in moist habitats. All vegetative parts of the plant contain thiaminase which blocks B vitamins in the body, thus it is toxic when consumed in large quantities. It reproduces by spores, and like all species of this ancient family, it represents a "living fossil."
Giant horsetail
Giant horsetail
Giant horsetail, often referred to as giant horsetail, stands out with hollow, bamboo-like stems reaching up to 5 meters tall. Its lush, reed-like appearance is enhanced by whorled branches and a lack of true leaves, indicative of its prehistoric ancestry. Thriving in wet environments, the grooved stems and segmented architecture aid giant horsetail in spreading aggressively, often forming dense colonies that hark back to the age of dinosaurs.
Equisetum bogotense
Equisetum bogotense
Equisetum bogotense is a perennial horsetail species that flourishes in wet, boggy conditions of the high Andes. Characteristically, it boasts jointed, hollow, bamboo-like stems with whorls of branches at the nodes, resembling a feathery tail. This plant adapts to its soggy surroundings with a hardy rhizomatic system, propagating robustly and contributing to its ancient lineage.
More Popular Genus
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Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
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About
Key Facts
Distribution
How To Care
All Species
More Genus
Horsetails
Equisetum
Also known as: Snake grasses
Horsetails comprise a genus of rushlike, jointed perennial herbs. The leaves of many species do not perform photosynthesis and are reduced to sheaths that encircle and clasp the main stem. Horsetails are the only surviving plants in the Equisetopsida family, which was a dominant family of plants in the times of the dinosaurs.
Lifespan
Perennial
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Key Facts About Horsetails
Feedback
Attributes of Horsetails
Leaf type
Deciduous
Scientific Classification of Horsetails
Distribution of Horsetails
Feedback
Distribution Map of Horsetails
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
How to Grow and Care for Horsetails
Feedback
Horsetails, often called horsetails, is a hardy plant genus requiring minimal yet mindful care. Basic care needs include bright, indirect light, consistent moisture (comparative to a boggy environment), and organically-rich, well-draining soil. They prefer cool to moderate temperatures. Common challenges usually involve invasive growth, requiring regular pruning. Periodically checking for diseases like root rot and pests such as aphids or scale insects is integral. Seasonally, horsetails benefits from reduced watering in winter and a semi-shade environment in summer.
How to Water Horsetails?
What Are the Sunlight Requirements for Horsetails?
How to Propagate Horsetails?
How to Plant Horsetails?
Exploring the Horsetails Plants
Feedback
8 most common species：
Field horsetail
Field horsetail (Equisetum arvense) grows from moist soils. In the spring it generates brown, non-photosynthetic stems whose whole purpose is to release reproductive spores. Once those stems wither, the plant grows its sterile photosynthetic stem to harvest and store energy for the next growing season. The plant fibers are slightly abrasive, and in the past were used to polish pewter and wooden objects. Ironically, field horsetail is toxic to horses and other livestock.
Giant horsetail
The giant horsetail(Equisetum telmateia) is native to South and Central America. The total height of this plant can range from 2 to 5 m tall, which is one reason for its common name. Some of the slender branches of the giant horsetail have spore cones.
Rough horsetail
Rough horsetail (Equisetum hyemale) is an evergreen perennial. An aggressive grower, it reproduces through spores and is non-flowering. It prefers full sun to partial shade and is pest resistant. It provides erosion control, grows well in wetlands and makes an interesting addition to water gardens. Expected height of 61 to 91 cm.
Woodland horsetail
Woodland horsetail (Equisetum sylvaticum) is a perennial plant species native to North America and Eurasia. Woodland horsetail grows in swampy forest, open woodlands, and meadow areas. This species is considered one of the most attractive species of horsetail.
Show More Species
All Species of Horsetails
More Popular Genus
Feedback
Dracaena
Dracaena are popular house plants that are easy to grow. They can tolerate low-light conditions and require little watering. Their leaves range from variegated to dark green. Their characteristic traits include woody stems that grow slowly but offer a striking appearance for small spaces such as apartments or offices.
Fig trees
Fig trees have been cultivated in many regions for their fruits, particularly the common fig, F. carica. Most of the species have edible fruits, although the common fig is the only one of commercial value. Fig trees are also important food sources for wildlife in the tropics, including monkeys, bats, and insects.
Brambles
Brambles are members of the rose family, and there are hundreds of different types to be found throughout the European countryside. They have been culturally significant for centuries; Christian folklore stories hold that when the devil was thrown from heaven, he landed on a bramble bush. Their vigorous growth habit can tangle into native plants and take over.
Maples
The popular tree family known as maples change the color of their leaves in the fall. Many cultural traditions encourage people to watch the colors change, such as momijigari in Japan. Maples popular options for bonsai art. Alternately, their sap is used to create maple syrup.
Prunus
Prunus is a genus of flowering fruit trees that includes almonds, cherries, plums, peaches, nectarines, and apricots. These are often known as "stone fruits" because their pits are large seeds or "stones." When prunus trees are damaged, they exhibit "gummosis," a condition in which the tree's gum (similar to sap) is secreted to the bark to help heal external wounds.
Nightshades
Nightshades is a large and diverse genus of plants, with more than 1500 different types worldwide. This genus incorporates both important staple food crops like tomato, potato, and eggplant, but also dangerous poisonous plants from the nightshade family. The name was coined by Pliny the Elder almost two thousand years ago.
Roses
Most species of roses are shrubs or climbing plants that have showy flowers and sharp thorns. They are commonly cultivated for cut flowers or as ornamental plants in gardens due to their attractive appearance, pleasant fragrance, and cultural significance in many countries. The rose hips (fruits) can also be used in jams and teas.
Oaks
Oaks are among the world's longest-lived trees, sometimes growing for over 1,000 years! The oldest known oak tree is in the southern United States and is over 1,500 years old. Oaks produce an exceedingly popular type of wood which is used to make different products, from furniture and flooring to wine barrels and even cosmetic creams.
Your Ultimate Guide to Plants
Identify grow and nurture the better way!
17,000 local species +400,000 global species studied
Nearly 5 years of research
80+ scholars in botany and gardening
Continue reading in our app - it's better
A database of 400000+ plants
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
unlimited guides at your fingertips...
