[Arid_gardener] Horsetail

[Carolyn Hills]

Hi Stephen --

According to the Sunset Western Garden Book, Horsetail (Equisetum hyemale) can grow in Zones 1-24. Prescott is in Sunset Zone 3A "Mild Areas of Mountain and Intermountain Climates", so horsetail should grow there. 

Horsetail thrives in marshy, wet areas. I am growing it in my Phoenix garden under a birdbath that drips quite a bit of water onto the horsetail every day. Although I do not experience the longer cold spells that you see in Prescott, my garden has been hit by more than a few very hard frosts since I planted the horsetail four years ago, and it doesn't seem to bother the plant at all. 

One caution: Horsetail can be invasive, and Sunset recommends either growing in containers or "plan to root-prune or dig out unwanted shoots rigorously and constantly."

You may want to query your local Yavapai County Master Gardener Program to see if any local Master Gardeners can give you tips for success with horsetail. Contact info is at http://cals.arizona.edu/yavapai/anr/hort/mastergardener/.

Hope this helps!

Carolyn Hills
Maricopa County Master Gardener Volunteer

----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Walker Public 
  To: County Extension Office 
  Sent: Saturday, July 22, 2006 11:29 AM
  Subject: [Arid_gardener] Horsetail


  Hello,

  I have seen a plant called a Horsetail. I don't know its real name. I live in Prescott. Can this plant grow at our location. I have bamboo in a pot that winters over just fine.

  Thanks,

  Stephen Walker


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