The word horsetail makes most gardeners cringe. The plant is too closely equated with field horsetail, which is one of the particularly perennial weeds in the garden. However, there are a number of species that look particularly decorative on ponds and in pots.
What types of horsetail are there?
There are about 20 different species of horsetail, such as field horsetail (up to 50 cm), swamp horsetail (up to 30 cm), winter horsetail (up to 100 cm), giant winter horsetail (up to 150 cm), Pond horsetail (up to 150 cm), dwarf horsetail (up to 10 cm) and Japanese horsetail (up to 130 cm).
How many types of horsetail are there?
Since the individual species have frequently interbred, there are no reliable figures on the number of species. Botanists assume there are around 20 different species.
Known species of horsetail
- Field horsetail: up to 50 cm
- Swamp horsetail: up to 30 cm
- Winter horsetail: up to 100 cm
- Giant winter horsetail: up to 150 cm
- Pond horsetail: up to 150 cm
- Dwarf horsetail: up to 10 cm
- Japanese horsetail: up to 130 cm
Differences between the individual horsetail species
Some types of horsetail, such as the winter horsetail, form single, unbranched shoots that look like small spears. Other species branch out so that several sprouts grow from one shoot.
Most species cultivated in the garden prefer swampy locations at the edge of a pond or body of water.
Horsetail does not form inflorescences
What all horsetail species have in common is the fact that the plant does not produce flowers with seeds through which it reproduces.
Instead, sprouts grow that have a spike of spores at the top. The spores are blown away by the wind.
They grow in spring and initially look like small mushrooms. In most species, the shoot spikes then shrink back. Only then do the mostly green shoots of the horsetail appear with their characteristic whorls of leaves.
If possible, only plant horsetail with a root barrier
All species of horsetail tend to spread widely, via spores and underground rhizomes.
You should only plant field horsetail in a pot, if at all, otherwise you will never get rid of the herb.
For other species, it is advisable to create a rhizome barrier (€37.00 on Amazon) before planting. It prevents the rhizomes from spreading throughout the garden via runners. The rhizome barrier must be embedded at least 60 centimeters deep into the ground.
Tip
Field horsetail, unlike swamp horsetail, is edible. However, green parts of the plant have a very bitter taste. Marsh horsetail is poisonous and must not be consumed.
