Scouringrush Horsetail

Equisetum hyemale

native · Hill Country

Scouringrush Horsetail is a perennial wildflower native to the Texas Hill Country that grows 2–3 ft tall and 3 ft wide. It wants full sun or part shade and medium water, and handles clay soil. Blooms not applicable in Jan–Dec. Evergreen — it holds its leaves through winter. Deer rarely browse it. Good for aquatic wildlife, birds and beetles.

Wet ground only. Usually found in wetlands and creek bottoms. It wants reliably moist ground and struggles in a dry upland bed.

Will it grow in your yard?

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The facts

5 sources

Type: Perennial wildflower
Sun: Full sun to part shade (3–6 hrs of direct sun)
Water: Medium
Height: 2–3 ft
Spread: 3 ft
Bloom: Jan–Dec · not applicable
Foliage: Evergreen
Soil: Takes clay · recorded on clay, limestone, loam, moist, poor drainage, sand
Deer: High — deer rarely browse it
Wildlife: Supports aquatic wildlife, birds and beetles

Where it grows

Recorded in these EPA Level IV ecoregions in the Austin and Hill Country launch area:

Edwards Plateau WoodlandNorthern Blackland PrairieFloodplains and Low Terraces

84 occurrence records in Central Texas (GBIF).

Can you buy it?

Also grows here — hard to find. Native and recorded growing in Central Texas, but not on the grower stock lists we read. Sourcing varies: some are stocked widely, others you will have to hunt for.