Dwarf horsetail, is a slender small-sized Equisetum growing less than 1' tall in dense dark green colonies along shorelines and shallow water. Although lacking true leaves or flowers, the upright stems of Dwarf horsetail add a nice shorter vertical accent to horizontal shoreline edges.
In terms of moisture level in the soil, horsetail prefers a soil that is at least moderately wet. It can even grow in standing water up to a depth of about 4 inches. It's well-suited for rain gardens and other areas that may periodically flood.
Regular fertilization of your Dwarf Horsetail Rush will keep it growing well all season long. CrystalClear Thrive Fertilizer Tablets can be pushed into the soil at planting time and from April through August, see label for fertilizer application rates.
Dwarf Horsetail does best in moist soil, it will tolerate seasonal flooding, but will not grow submerged with water above the crown of the plant.
Prune the horsetail if the stalks become damaged by cutting them off at ground level. If you cut mid-branch or higher the plant has a tendency to branch into multiple stems, making it top-heavy.
The young plants are eaten cooked or raw, but considerable care must be taken. If eaten over a long enough period of time, some species of horsetail can be poisonous to grazing animals, including horses. The toxicity appears to be due to thiaminase, which can cause thiamin (vitamin B1) deficiency. Dwarf scouring rush, also called dwarf horsetail, is a hardy grass plant distantly related to ferns. This evergreen rush has a 2.5-20cm (1 to 8 in) tall stem that twists and bends into gnarly patches.
