Horsetail Reed

Equisetum hyemale Equisetum hyemale, often referred to as scouring rush or horsetail reed, is a unique, non-flowering plant that belongs to the evergreen perennial category. Typically, it grows to a height of 3 to 5 feet and is native to vast regions across Eurasia, Canada, and the United States, including parts of Texas. You can commonly find it thriving in moist environments like wet woods, hillsides, and near bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, and ponds.   The plant features distinctive rigid, rough, hollow stems that are jointed and segmented, resembling bamboo and boasting a dark green hue. These stems grow from the plant's rhizomes and are adorned with whorls of tiny, scale-like leaves at each node. One of the appealing aspects of Equisetum hyemale is that its evergreen stems stand out in winter, bringing a touch of interest to the landscape.   Historically, the high silica content found in the stems made them useful for polishing pots and pans, hence the name scouring rush.