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Bogs

Equisetum palustre

marsh horsetail

An evergreen perennial to 50cm tall, forming a clump of rough-textured, reed-like stems with whorls of slender, upward-pointing branches. A widespread wild plant of marshes and meadows across the British Isles

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Poorly–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Equisetaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Columnar upright
Genus: Equisetum are also known as horsetails or living fossils as they are the only living genus in Equisetaceae, a family of vascular plants which reproduce by spores rather than seeds. Plants have a rush-like appearance.
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in moist to boggy soil in sun or partial shade

Propagation

Propagate by division

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Patio and container plants

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

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