Scouring-rush
Equisetum hyemale var. affine
Equisetaceae


Landscape Uses:

Primarily recommended for natural landscapes and habitat restorations.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

Availability:
Commonly available at native plant nurseries in central Florida. Available at native plant nurseries in South Florida.
Description:
Stiff-stemmed rush 2-4 feet tall, spreading by underground stems. Stems are one to seven tenths of an inch in diameter with 14-50 ridges.
Height:
Typically 2-4 feet in height, spreading to form large clumps.
Growth Rate:
Range:
Throughout the United States, scattered south to Lee, Hendry, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties.
Habitats:
Swamps, ditches, and wet, disturbed sites.
Soils:
Wet to moist, inundated and poorly-drained to moderately-drained, usually organic soils with acidic pH.
Nutritional Requirements:
Moderate to high; grows best with some organic content and may languish in nutrient poor soils.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance:
Low; requires moist to wet soils and is intolerant of long periods of drought.
Light Requirements:
Full sun to light shade.
Flower Color:
N/A
Flower Characteristics:
Spores in yellowish cones one half inch long.
Flowering Season:
N/A
Fruit:
N/A
Wildlife and Ecology:
Horticultural Notes:
Comments:
We have been adding data for this species for central and northern Florida and welcome any feedback or review. If you would like to contribute information or images, please contact George Gann via the IRC staff page.


Mike Rosenthal
Shirley Denton
Shirley Denton