Rough Horsetail, Scouring Rush, Winter Scouring Rush, Common Scouring Rush, Dutch Rush (Equisetum hyemale)

by Kell Dec 17, 2007 3:01 AM

seed heads

Horsetail in a pot.

Fertile stem of Scouring Rush, showing the cone like spore-producing strobilus in British Columbia, Canada, August 1997

Horsetail Rush/Dutch Rush/Bulrush. Freshly repotted and already filling it's new pot.

Scouring Rush in British Columbia, Canada, August 1997

Sterile stem of Scouring Rush, showing the crown like ring of tiny scale-leaves in British Columbia, Canada, August 1997

This grows along the riverbanks and in my flowerbeds. Its is invasive and can be a problem. But it responds to weed killer whiped on stem and dies, root and all in a few weeks. Only thing, there are usually more since it also comes up from underground roots.

I have also dug some and put them in pots in my pond. They are immersed totally in water and are thriving. They seem to be working real well in there.

If you look close at the tops of the plant you can see the little seed heads. You remove this after its dry and plant as soon as you can for best results.......

A close-up view of a Rough Horsetail, Scouring Rush, Durch Rush (Equisetum hyemale) young strobilus which is the spore producing structure on top of fertile stem.

A close-up view of the Rough Horsetail, Scouring Rush, Dutch Rush (Equisetum hyemale) maturing strobilus. These segmens are called sporophylls and eventually resemble umbrellas.

A close-up of the Rough Horsetail, Scouring Rush, Dutch Rush (Equisetum hyemale) mature strobilus which is shedding spores. This plant does not produce flowers nor seeds.