Hippuris vulgaris
Common Horsetail
Common names: Water Horsetail, Water Spruce
Photo: André Karwath aka Aka · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Source
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Description
The common horsetail is a native wetland and aquatic plant that, with its loosely arranged, needle‑like leaves, resembles small fir twigs. Stiff, unbranched shoots rise up to 30 cm from the water, while soft, drooping leaves develop beneath the surface. From June to July inconspicuous, small flowers appear in the leaf axils. Hippuris vulgaris prefers nutrient‑rich shallow water up to 40 cm deep and is regarded as a reliable oxygen supplier for ponds and garden pond edges.
Care instructions
Plant the common horsetail in baskets with loamy pond soil and place it in a water depth of 10 to 40 cm. It tolerates full sun to light shade and spreads rapidly via creeping rhizomes, so a late‑summer pruning is worthwhile to prevent overgrowth in the pond. It remains winter‑hardy even when the water freezes; retreating to frost‑free depths is only necessary in very shallow ponds. Divide the stems every two to three years in spring to maintain vigor, and regularly remove dead shoots to keep the water clear.
Soil & site
Soil pH
Soil type
moist, nutrient-rich, loamy, clayey
Feeding
Light feeder
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