Field Horsetail
Equisetum arvense
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Pl. 95D2 — Equisetum arvense
Equisetum arvenseEquisetum arvenseEquisetum arvenseEquisetum arvenseEquisetum arvenseEquisetum arvenseEquisetum arvenseEquisetum arvenseEquisetum arvenseEquisetum arvenseEquisetum arvenseEquisetum arvenseEquisetum arvenseEquisetum arvense
IOverview
Overview
Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) is a perennial herb found across a wide range of North American and Eurasian habitats, from Afghanistan to Yukon in Canada. Native to regions including Alabama, Alaska, and parts of Europe such as Austria and Greece, this plant thrives in light, medium, or heavy soil with a pH between 4 and 7. Known for its edible shoots, stems, and roots, Field Horsetail is often used in culinary preparations. It prefers dry to moist conditions and can grow up to 0.6 meters tall. This plant's distinctive feature lies in its jointed, hollow stems that resemble small bamboo, making it easily recognizable even without leaves or cones.
Quick answers
What is Field Horsetail?
Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) is a perennial herb found across a wide range of North American and Eurasian habitats, from Afghanistan to Yukon in Canada.
What is Field Horsetail used for?
Traditionally used for digestion. Each claim is evidence-rated — see Section II for full citations.
Best for
Top 1 evidence-ranked use of Field Horsetail
Clinicaluses · safety · chemistry · dosagemedicinal profile
IIBenefits & evidence
1 claim · 0 sources
Benefits & evidence
1 claim · 0 sources- Traditional-use note: Field Horsetail appears in herbal sources around after-meal comfort traditions, often as a tea. PlantSage presents this as ethnobotanical context, not as medical advice.
Traditional context only. This reviewed claim keeps the original low confidence level, but avoids treatment, disease, dosage, or guaranteed-effect language.
Growingconditions · propagation · uses
VCultivation
Cultivation
Field Horsetail thrives in light to medium soils and prefers a pH between 4 and 7. It can tolerate dry to moist conditions but requires well-drained soil to prevent root rot. Hardy from zones 3-11, it is a perennial that grows up to 0.6 meters tall. This plant prefers partial shade to full sun and should be propagated by division or spores. Harvest the shoots and stems for edible use.
Light
7/10
Water
Dry, Moist
Soil
Light (sandy), Medium, Heavy (clay)
Hardiness
3-11
Life cycle
Perennial
Habit
Forb/herb
Mature size
0.6 m tall
Soil pH
4–7
Seasonal calendar
Northern hemisphere · UTC month is September
winterspringsummerautumnwinter
BloomJFMAMJJASOND
For first-time growers
How to grow Field Horsetail for the first time
7steps
Field Horsetail is a hardy, low-maintenance plant that's perfect for beginners.
- 1
What you'll need
A small Field Horsetail plant or seeds, a container with drainage holes, and potting soil.
- 2
Best time to plant
Plant in early spring when the ground is moist but not waterlogged.
- 3
Soil and container prep
Use well-draining soil with a pH between 4 and 7. Ensure your container has adequate drainage holes.
- 4
Sowing or transplanting
Transplant young plants from the garden or sow seeds directly into the pot, covering them lightly.
- 5
First two weeks
Keep the soil consistently moist and place the plant in a partially shaded area to avoid stress.
- 6
Ongoing care
Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Place it in full sun or partial shade, depending on your climate.
- 7
Harvest or pruning
Prune back any dead or yellowing stems to encourage new growth and maintain a neat appearance.
VIEdible & utility
Edible & utility
Edible parts:RootShootsStem
Edible uses: The field horsetail's shoots and stems are edible and can be eaten raw or cooked. They are often prepared by boiling to make them more palatable. The plant is commonly consumed in salads or as a cooked vegetable. SKIP
Other uses:DyeantifungalAnimal feedCraftingtextilesPolishSandpaperScourerDynamic accumulator
Contextrange · companions · related
VIIDistribution
30 native · 0 introduced
Distribution
30 native · 0 introducedDistribution across3 continents· 30 native
Europe9 regions
native (9)AlbaniaAustriaBelgiumBulgariaCyprusFrancePortugalRussiaSpain
Asia2 regions
native (2)AfghanistanChina
Americas1 region
native (1)United States
Broader regions
native:Alabama, Alberta, Aleutian Is., Altay, Amur, Arizona, Arkansas, Baltic States, Massachusetts, British Columbia, Buryatiya, Chita, Colorado, Connecticut, Czechoslovakia, Delaware
IXSpecimen gallery
1 image
Specimen gallery
1 imageXSee also
8 related
See also
8 relatedPlants you might compare or use together — scored by shared family, common use cases, and growing requirements.
shared use cases
Different families, similar therapeutic role — good for comparing.
XI
Explore further
Companion planting
Health goals
Compare with similar plants
Growing zone
XII
About this entry
- Last updated
- Citation
- How to cite this entry · Submit a correction
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