Description
Equisetum fluviatile, commonly known as Water Horsetail, Swamp Horsetail or Smooth Horsetail, is an upright growing rhizomatous perennial pond plant that has a clump-forming habit. It produces mostly hollow green stems between 2 and 10mm thick, and can reach heights of between 40-60 cm. Each stem features yellow-brown banding and has between 10 and 30 very fine shallow grooves along the outside, with thin branches emerging around the stem nodes. At the tip of fertile stems, blunt spore bearing cones are produced, which can measure between 1 to 1.5cm long.
Horsetail Rush grows best in full sun to partial shade in moist to wet soils. It thrives in consistently moist garden soil in an exposed or sheltered area but can also be planted in standing water 90cm deep. It is ideal for growing at the edge of a pond or water garden, in boggy areas or in shallow water.