Scouring Rush Equisetum praealtum
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Scouring Rush:
Previously known as:
- Equisetum hyemale var. affine
- Phonetic Spelling
- ek-wis-SEE-tum pray-AL-tum
- Description
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Tall Scouring Rush is an herbaceous, non-flowering, evergreen perennial in the Equisetaceae (horsetail) family. It is native to North America, Greenland, Northeast China, Russian Far East, Japan, and Central America. It is distributed in all continental U.S. states and has been introduced to Belgium and Taiwan. Stems have rough silica-containing ridges, making it unappealing to deer and other herbivores. Although this plant is very similar to E. hyemale, it is sometime classified as a separate species due to morphological differences in height, color, stem diameter and number of ridges. It forms large, dense colonies of upright, reed-like, unbranched stalks up to 11 feet tall. Stems are conspicuously jointed, where small, dark, triangular scale-like leaves are arranged in a ring around each joint. It forms both fertile and infertile shoots. This plant reproduces by means of a spore-bearing cone that forms at the tip of fertile stems. Spores are released in early to mid-summer. Plants also spread by means of a deep network of rhizomes and fibrous secondary roots. It prefers full to partial sun and is found in moist or wet habitats with sandy or gravely soil such as wetlands, ditches, riparian areas, alluvial flats, swamps, ponds and other areas with standing water. It is often found in areas containing limestone. This plant is sometimes available from nurseries and is best suited as a potted specimen to prevent aggressive, invasive spread if planted in-ground.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. It is an aggressive spreader by rhizomes.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Equisetum
- Species:
- praealtum
- Family:
- Equisetaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Previously used to polish pot and pan due to the high silicone content
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North & Central America, China, Greenland, Russia, Japan
- Distribution:
- Continental U.S., North Americal, Central America, China, Greenland, Russia, Japan, Belgium, Taiwan
- Wildlife Value:
- Provides habitat for wildlife
- Play Value:
- Buffer
- Defines Paths
- Easy to Grow
- Textural
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 11 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Water Plant
- Weed
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Description:
- No fruits. This plant reproduces by spores that are available from May to September. Spores are on the strobilus (cones) on top of fertile stems.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Black
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are reduced to small black triangular structures at the joints with a ring of teeth that fall off as the season progresses.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Green jointed hollow stems with rough ridges
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Pond
- Pool/Hardscape
- Riparian
- Slope/Bank
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Native Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Barrier
- Border
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Small Mammals
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Weedy