Horsetail Pond Plant - Care & Grow Guide
by Tory Jon | Last Updated: November 15, 2022
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The horsetail plant or Equisetum is well known for its medicinal purposes that date back several thousands of years. Even more amazing, botanists consider the plant a living fossil, with its earliest known existence predating even the dinosaurs - 350 million years ago!
Horsetail, also commonly known as horse bristle or snake grass, is native to Europe. This aquatic plant is generally strong and can grow 4 feet in height or taller. It is identifiable by its jointed, hollow green stems, which are furrowed with black bands. It is often mistaken for bamboo.
You can use horsetail as an accent plant to complement your pond’s rocky edge, as a partial cover for your pond or pond equipment, or anything else your imagination can dream up!
The Horsetail plant comes in various species, but the Horsetail Rush (Equisetum Hyemale) is the most popular and most used in backyard ponds.
Common Names
Equisetum, snake grass, puzzlegrass, scouring rush, horse bristle
Plant Type
Light Requirements
Full Sun to partial shade
Hardiness Zones
USDA 4-12
Bloom
Remains green year round
Grow Up To
4 feet tall (sometimes more)
Color
Green
How To Plant Horsetail In A Pond
Horsetail should be planted in a container with a depth and width of roughly 12 inches. Fill the container with loam topsoil (not rocks) and plant the horsetail rush into the bottom of the container. Submerge the container on a stable shelf in your pond, leaving up to an inch of water above the soil. Keep the roots contained in the pot as the horsetail plant likes to roam.
Horsetail reed grows well in full sun to partial shade.
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Horsetail Care Guide
The larger part of the horsetail plant stays green irrespective of the weather or season. That said, it is recommended to detach old stems that have browned, died, and dried out. This will help to preserve the aesthetic values of the plant.
You should also note that Horsetail Rush can be aggressive and spread extensively when planted in the soil close to a stream or pond.
Horsetail is cold tolerant – they are hardy in zones 4-12.
Horsetail Care Card
Download our free printable care card for the Horsetail plant! Click the care card below and save the PDF file to your computer. You can easily print off the 3x5 care card or access it right from your phone. Get all the important information you need to keep your Horsetail plants healthy and happy!
Plus, we provide a blank card for you to print and fill out yourself. Print it as many times as you like to create cards for all your plants!
Pond Plant Care Card Set
