Rough Horsetail, Scouring Rush, Winter Scouring Rush, Common Scouring Rush, Dutch Rush

On Apr 11, 2016, ellenrogerj from north bend, OR (Zone 9a) wrote:

it's horrible. a landscaper in our area told me that the only way to get rid of this nasty agressive plant is to move. it will be here when the dinosaurs come back.

On Jan 23, 2016, JBtheExplorer from Southeast, WI wrote:

This is a fantastic native plant that looks somewhat like miniature bamboo. As other reviews have stated, this plant spreads aggressively. If it's not native to your location, I suggest not even taking the chance of buying it. Never plant it in the ground, unless you live by a natural pond where it can grow wildly. I planted mine in my bog filter, which is what filters my garden pond. The bog liner helps keep control, but it still needs to be maintained. Every spring, I pull out 3/4 of it, knowing that it will all regrow by the end of the season. I also make sure none of it escapes the bog. In my situation, it's fairly easy to control. I have never seen it spread by spores and have never had it pop up anywhere else. With all of that said, I'll still give this plant a positive rating. The p... read morelant is fascinating, and as long as you have a way to control it, it's well worth buying.

On Aug 20, 2012, Perpignan1 from Gainesville, FL (Zone 9a) wrote:

I just bought this plant and placed it into four pots which have no drainage holes (I don't want it to escape). I used my heavy clay soil and have been keeping it well water. The pots are literally floating in water. I thought this plant would like this, but instead they are turning brown and appear to be dying. All four pots are now looking half-dead. What can I do to save the plant? Was it that the plants reached me bare-rooted? Was it the wrong soil? (I thought this plant would want moisture-retaining soil!) Is it the extreme summer heat, sun and humidity of my Florida summer weather? Any advice will be welcome. Many thanks, Peter.

On Jul 21, 2011, Swansea from Downingtown, PA wrote:

A very nasty pernicious weed that is difficult to eliminate. I am hoping that the prolonged drought and heatwave will be a major setback to spread in my yard. The high silicone content makes it resistant to herbicides and it has a very large root system. The only plants that choke it out are grasses.

On Jul 20, 2011, zdmj11 from Powell, WY wrote:

Sorry to disappointed the exotic plant lovers out there, but this is a very nasty invasive plant.

Anyone considering even having this on their premises should have their head examined.

If it hasn't turned you off yet, give it some time and it will.

Forty years of observing and fighting this weed on my farm have shown me that this is nothing to be messed with.

If you insist on having it, laminate a picture of it and stake the picture in your flowerbed. It'll be the best decision you ever made regarding this menace.

On Jul 18, 2011, babakool from Tonasket, WA wrote:

When I was a child growing up in Western Washington we used the "juice" from Horsetails to help take the sting out of nettles. It either worked very well or we had wonderful imaginations. I don't ever recall anyone growing them on purpose back then.

On Jul 18, 2011, depuy from Eureka, CA wrote:

I have grown E. hyemale in containers without a problem here. E. arvense grows wild here and is quite abundant ,it's easy to pull and although I'll never get rid of it, it is pretty and a minor nuisance . It's the buttercups and Himalayan Blackberries that are the real problem here.
All green plants will succumb to total darkness. If possible covering the Equisetum growing area in spring, as they emerge or just before, with a layer of cardboard ,then a layer of newspaper and topped with mulch for one year should "starve them" to death.
I have been growing Equisetum myriochaetum in containers , it can grow up to 24' but is more tropical in nature so ,although,it will overwinter in Humboldt County Ca.it barely recovers with our cool summers .It thrives in my greenhouse.<... read morebr /> It might grow well in northern areas with warm summers but would most likely die out in cold winter areas eliminating any problem with invasiveness. Just remember to dig some up in fall and overwinter it inside.Also, test it in a container sunken in the ground to make sure it can't overwinter before giving it free reign in your garden.

On Jul 18, 2011, margiedg from Great Falls, MT wrote:

We had a plant similar if not identical in the side of a cliff at the bottom of a coulee where there was a small spring. The plant was much smaller but I always thought it was interesting. This location is in Montana. There are also dinosaur bones in that area. Don't know if it would be invasive but was not, in that location.

On Jul 18, 2011, LeslieT from Bellaire, TX wrote:

This plant is incredibly hard to contain. Perhaps placing it in a concrete pot in a plastic pond would work. But, I've seen it escape even when surrounded by several feet of concrete on all sides. And, you will NEVER be able to to remove it. I'm told someone tried using a backhoe and still could not get rid of it. Anyone who plants this in the ground will rue the day they did because it will destroy their garden.
Leslie

On Jul 18, 2011, jww from El Macero, CA wrote:

We lived in Eureka, CA for over 40 years and I fought this 'weed' for those 40+ years. Once established, you have it forever. Yes, you can pull it up but it will not go away...unless you want to dig up your entire yard. Even then I doubt it would be gone. So, a very strong container is my recommendation if you have to have it. Some of the larger varieties are quite interesting looking - just beware.
;-)j

On Jul 18, 2011, sllawrence from New Braunfels , TX (Zone 8b) wrote:

The key to this plant, as stated, is to keep it contained. I have Rough Horsetail in a bog garden made of a heavy, plastic pond liner surrounded by moss rocks. It gives nice height and a lovely primordial air to the garden. It is absolutely no care except to top off the bog as needed. Zero problems with spreading because it is wholly contained. Dragonfles and damselflies love it, as do green anoles (chameleon lizards). Frogs enjoy the bog and control mosquito larvae. I consider it an important addition to my garden, but I would never plant it freely into the garden (zone 8a).

On May 14, 2011, Gabrielle from (Zone 5a) wrote:

I've had this in my garden for a few years now and it seemed to be behaving, but this year it started spreading far and wide. There were starts coming up three feet from the main plant! Needless to say, it's coming out.

On Aug 25, 2009, marksgrdn from Stockton, CA (Zone 9a) wrote:

i have always wanted this plant in my garden. i decided to turn my pond into a bog garden since the racoons wiped out my koi more times than i care to think. i am using it as a background plant the length of the pond. forming a screen of sorts. they are now about 4 1/2 ft tall and are filling in slowly. the ones that have laid sideways now have a ton of smaller shoots growing up from them. thinner than its parent plant. interesting looking.

On Mar 10, 2009, farrar62441 from Marshall, IL (Zone 6a) wrote:

I have read horror stories about this plant but it must just be in warmer areas.....I planted some near my little pond two years ago and it really hasn't gotten very much growth....stays in one place so far....It gets to about -10 sometimes in the winter here.....so maybe that keeps it in check. I was wondering if you are suppose to cut it back in the winter? Anyone know? I would actually like for mine to get bigger and taller.

On Jul 24, 2008, creekwalker from Benton County, MO (Zone 5a) wrote:

I have found this growing near one section of a nearby creek for years and while it is numerous there, it doesn't seem to be choking anything else out. I do not see it in very many places elsewhere and it doesn't seem to be a problem here. I like the way it looks too.

On Jan 5, 2008, victorludorum from London,
United Kingdom (Zone 9a) wrote:

I wouldn't plant this in the ground, because of its reputation for invasiveness, but it looks great in a container, either in the pond or in dappled shade where it won't dry out too much. My daughter's sax teacher told me it's also known as reed rush because it is used to clean and refine saxophone or clarinet reeds. (By the way, the reeds themselves are made from Arundo donax, which also makes a very striking garden plant.)

On May 5, 2007, baroque from South Dayton, OH (Zone 6a) wrote:

This is a great plant. I had planted it in the ground nearly five years ago not near any water and it does great. Yes, it does spread, but due to it being very thin, it does not crowd out other plants or take over. I suggest this plant for someone who wants a "primitive" or "living fossil" addition to their garden. I have gotten many compliments on this plant due to its exotic look.

On Feb 16, 2007, sladeofsky from Louisville, KY (Zone 6b) wrote:

These plants are geat additions to the Japanese garden or to highlight ultra modern architecture. The verticle, jointed stems are reminiscent of leafless bamboo. They are very hardy and therfore perfect for year-round containers. These are showing up all around town where people want to add a little chic. These plants are great for extremely restricted areas of as little as a few inches, such as may exist between a sidewalk and a wall. If stems become damaged it may be best to prune to just above ground level. Pruning higher on the stem will joint into multiple new stems and may make your plant top-heavy. Although some people are successfully growing horsetails in water they will also grow in heavy dry soils.

On Jun 29, 2006, AL_GAConnection from Columbus, GA (Zone 8a) wrote:

Zone 8a-b...I pulled up 5 stalks from a pond area, left them in the back of the truck all night, planted them the next day in several pots to see if they would take. They were watered once a week for three weeks and babies formed! I have repotted them into a larger pot, moved them to a more shaded area to see if they will tolerate the shade before transplanting them to the ground around my Zen Garden.

On Aug 31, 2004, zmaj101 from Layton, UT wrote:

WARNING!!!! Saying this plant is invasive is a major inderstatement.

Feel free to plant it in a containter to your heart's desire. It actually can be quite attractive in the right setting. However, DO NOT let it get loose in your yard. The plant spreads like a weed and will take over any garden or lawn. Once it is in the ground, there is no way to control it. Horsetail spreads from a single underground rhizome. In otherwords, all the plants are connected. You cannot pull it out by the roots because they go down in the ground as far as 3 feet! The root system goes straight down and then spreads horizontally. I've seen infestations where plants as far as 50 feet apart were connected underground. Additionally, when the plant is broken (from attempting to pull it ou... read moret) it then splits and branches out from that spot.

On Aug 30, 2003, Terry from Murfreesboro, TN (Zone 7a) wrote:

The common name "Scouring Rush" refers to one of its many uses, as sections can be bundled together to form a pot scrubber; the sharp silica crystals it contains contribute to its scouring ability, but also make it toxic to livestock and humans if ingested.

Another use for Equisetum hyemale is as a toy - either a whistle or using its sections to snap apart and back together, a la Tinker Toys.)

A favorite of dragon flies, especially if planted near a pond or stream, but once established in a moist environment, it can be invasive.