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Wood Horsetail

Equisetum sylvaticumfam. Sphenophyllaceae
Educational content — not medical, botanical, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified clinician before using any herbal preparation — especially during pregnancy, breastfeeding, while on medication, or for children. How we source & review →
medicinaledibleperennialedibleedible rootmedicinalnative amnative asianative euperennial
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Equisetum sylvaticum (Wood Horsetail) — botanical photograph
Pl. 1822 — Equisetum sylvaticum
Equisetum sylvaticumEquisetum sylvaticumEquisetum sylvaticumEquisetum sylvaticumEquisetum sylvaticumEquisetum sylvaticumEquisetum sylvaticumEquisetum sylvaticumEquisetum sylvaticumEquisetum sylvaticumEquisetum sylvaticumEquisetum sylvaticumEquisetum sylvaticumEquisetum sylvaticum
I

Prezentare

Equisetum sylvaticum, cunoscut sub numele de pădurean de ploaie, este o plante perenială care se găsește în diverse regiuni din Hemisfere Nordică, inclusiv Alaska, Albania și de la Europa până în Asia. Această plantă se dezvoltă în mediile umide cu sustrat lichid sau medie și poate crește până la 0,6 m de înălțime. Consemnat pentru proprietățile sale alimentare și medicale, a fost utilizată de omi de sute de ani. Radacina, frunzele și stemurile sunt toate comestibile, făcând din Equisetum sylvaticum o resursă valabilă în multe zone ale suportului său nativ. Caracteristicile sale distincte includ stemuri hollow, cu articulații care se asemeau celor ale pădureanelor, dar cu un structură mai ușoară și mai delicate comparativ cu unele alte specii.

Quick answers

What is Wood Horsetail?

Equisetum sylvaticum, cunoscut sub numele de pădurean de ploaie, este o plante perenială care se găsește în diverse regiuni din Hemisfere Nordică, inclusiv Alaska, Albania și de la Europa până în Asia. Această plantă se dezvoltă în mediile umide cu sustrat lichid sau medie și poate crește până la 0,6 m de înălțime.

What is Wood Horsetail used for?

Traditionally used for digestion. Each claim is evidence-rated — see Section II for full citations.

Compare with:Dwarf scouring rush→Dutch Rush→all comparisons →
Best for
Top 1 evidence-ranked use of Wood Horsetail
Jump to full evidence →
Clinicaluses · safety · chemistry · dosagemedicinal profile
II

Beneficii și dovezi

1 claim · traditional-use context
Traditional-use context
These notes are presented as ethnobotanical context. No cited clinical references are catalogued for this plant yet.
  • Traditional-use note: Wood 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.

    ▲ LimitedDigestion →
IV·b

Mixology suggestions

1 draft
Editorial drafts. These pairings are AI-suggested from traditional herbal lore. Always verify with a qualified herbalist before brewing.
Wood Horsetail support blend
general
tea
AI returned a direct ingredient list; normalized into one draft blend for editorial review.
Growingconditions · propagation · uses
V

Cultivare

Equisetum sylvaticum se dezvoltă în condiții umide și preferă sustrate lichide sau grele cu pH între 4 și 6,5. Este durabil în regiuni temperaturne și poate fi găsit pe diverse continente. Această plante pereniale crește până la 0,6 m de înălțime și necesită o parte a zilei de soare sau soare direct. Pentru cele mai bune rezultate, plantează radacina, frunzele sau stemurile în sustrat drenat bine care rămâne constant umed. Evite orice recomandări specifice ale produselor, deoarece ele nu sunt furnizate.
Light
4/10
Water
Moist
Soil
Light (sandy), Medium, Heavy (clay)
Life cycle
Perennial
Habit
Forb/herb
Mature size
0.6 m tall
Soil pH
4–6.5
Seasonal calendar
Northern hemisphere · UTC month is November
winterspringsummerautumnwinter
BloomJFMAMJJASOND
For first-time growers

How to grow Wood Horsetail for the first time

8steps

Start with Wood Horsetail as a simple, low-maintenance addition to your garden.

  1. 1

    What you'll need

    A young plant or seeds, a pot or garden bed, and basic gardening tools.

  2. 2

    Best time to plant

    Plant in early spring when the soil is moist but not waterlogged.

  3. 3

    Soil and container prep

    Ensure the soil is well-draining with a pH between 4 and 6.5, and prepare your garden bed or pot accordingly.

  4. 4

    Sowing or transplanting

    Transplant young plants directly into the garden or start seeds indoors in small pots before moving them outside.

  5. 5

    First two weeks

    Keep the soil consistently moist during this period, and avoid overwatering to prevent root rot.

  6. 6

    Ongoing care

    Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Mulch around the plant to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

  7. 7

    Harvest or pruning

    Prune back any dead or yellowing stems in late winter or early spring to encourage new growth.

  8. 8

    Common mistakes

    Overwatering, planting in poorly draining soil, and not providing enough light are common issues.

VI

Edible & utility

Edible parts:RootShootsStem
Edible uses: The wood horsetail's shoots and stems are edible, often harvested in spring when they are young and tender. They can be eaten raw or cooked. Typically, the plant is prepared by steaming or boiling to make it more palatable. The roots are also sometimes consumed but require thorough cooking due to their tough texture.
Other uses:DyeantifungalHairSandpaperScourerDynamic accumulator
Contextrange · companions · related
VII

Distribuție

98 native · 1 introduced
Distribution across3 continents· 98 native· 1 introduced
Europe24 regions
native (24)AlbaniaAustriaBelarusBelgiumBulgariaDenmarkFinlandFranceGermanyGreeceHungaryIcelandIrelandItalyNetherlandsNorwayPolandRomaniaRussiaSpainSwedenSwitzerlandUkraineUnited Kingdom
Asia6 regions
native (5)ChinaJapanKazakhstanMongoliaSouth Korea
introduced (1)Turkey
Americas2 regions
native (2)GreenlandUnited States
Broader regions
native:Alberta, Altay, Amur, Baltic States, British Columbia, Buryatiya, Chita, Connecticut, Czechoslovakia, Delaware, Føroyar, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Irkutsk, Kamchatka, Khabarovsk, Krasnoyarsk, Kuril Is., Labrador, Maine, Manitoba, Maryland, Masachusettes, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Newfoundland, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northwest Territorie, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Primorye, Prince Edward I., Québec, Rhode I., Sakhalin, Saskatchewan, South Dakota, Transcaucasus, Tuva, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Yakutskiya, Yugoslavia, Yukon
IX

Specimen gallery

1 image
Equisetum sylvaticum (Wood Horsetail) — botanical photograph
Wood Horsetail (Equisetum sylvaticum)
X

See also

8 related

Plants you might compare or use together — scored by shared family (Sphenophyllaceae), common use cases, and growing requirements.

same family · Sphenophyllaceae
Botanical relatives — often share phytochemistry + growing needs.
XI

Explore further

XII

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