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Equisetum praealtum, commonly known as Tall Scouring Rush or Scouringrush Horsetail, is an ancient, non-flowering evergreen perennial in the horsetail family that forms dense colonies of upright, reed-like, hollow stems. These unbranched stems are jointed with conspicuous dark bands or sheaths at each node, featuring rough, silica-impregnated ridges that give a gritty texture useful for historical scouring of pots and pans. The plant produces spore-bearing cones at the tips of fertile stems in summer, though it lacks true leaves or flowers, relying instead on these ancient reproductive structures. It thrives in moist to wet habitats such as riverbanks, ditches, wetlands, and riparian areas, preferring full sun to partial shade and sandy or gravelly soils. Extremely hardy and low-maintenance, Tall Scouring Rush provides striking vertical texture, wildlife habitat, and year-round green interest in naturalized or water-edge landscapes.
ORIGIN - NC Native
EXPOSURE PREFERENCE - Full sun, tolerates shade
FLOWER COLOR - none (spore-bearing cones)
HEIGHT - 3-5 ft
HABIT - evergreen
MOISTURE - wet to standing water
HARDINESS ZONES - 3-11
Equisetum praealtum, commonly known as Tall Scouring Rush or Scouringrush Horsetail, is an ancient, non-flowering evergreen perennial in the horsetail family that forms dense colonies of upright, reed-like, hollow stems. These unbranched stems are jointed with conspicuous dark bands or sheaths at each node, featuring rough, silica-impregnated ridges that give a gritty texture useful for historical scouring of pots and pans. The plant produces spore-bearing cones at the tips of fertile stems in summer, though it lacks true leaves or flowers, relying instead on these ancient reproductive structures. It thrives in moist to wet habitats such as riverbanks, ditches, wetlands, and riparian areas, preferring full sun to partial shade and sandy or gravelly soils. Extremely hardy and low-maintenance, Tall Scouring Rush provides striking vertical texture, wildlife habitat, and year-round green interest in naturalized or water-edge landscapes.
ORIGIN - NC Native
EXPOSURE PREFERENCE - Full sun, tolerates shade
FLOWER COLOR - none (spore-bearing cones)
HEIGHT - 3-5 ft
HABIT - evergreen
MOISTURE - wet to standing water
HARDINESS ZONES - 3-11