This article has been reviewed by our invasive weeds expert:
Darren Greatbatch, Specialist Advisory Manager, Amenity & Invasive Weeds, at Environment Controls.
Last reviewed on .
Darren Greatbatch, Specialist Advisory Manager, Amenity & Invasive Weeds, at Environment Controls.
Last reviewed on .
General Identification of Horsetail
Horsetail (Equisetum) is an ancient, distinctive plant that changes appearance throughout the year, with clear identifiers in each season.
- Horsetail has jointed, hollow stems with vertical ridges, and in most species, the stems are rough to the touch.
- It produces two types of shoots: brown, spore-producing fertile shoots in spring, and green, branched vegetative shoots in summer.
- Typically found in moist, heavy soils, often near streams or poorly drained ground.
Identifying Horsetail in Spring
- The plant first emerges as pale brown, unbranched shoots with a cone-like structure at the tip. This cone contains spores and is usually about 30 cm tall.
- These fertile shoots may resemble small mushrooms or toadstools before the green stems appear.
- The green vegetative shoots start to emerge after the cones have withered, typically by late April or May.
Identifying Horsetail in Summer
- The plant develops dense, green, brush-like foliage that resembles miniature conifer forests or bottle brushes.
- The stems become green, branched, and reach up to 60 cm tall.
- Stems are segmented and may have small, black or brownish sheaths at each joint.
Identifying Horsetail in Autumn and Winter
- In autumn, the green shoots die back, and the plant’s above-ground presence diminishes gradually.
- By winter, Horsetail is largely dormant, with only withered brown stalks or remnants visible at the soil surface.
- The extensive root (rhizome) system remains alive underground, ready to send up new shoots in spring.
| Season | Main Features | Typical Colour |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Brown, unbranched, cone-tipped fertile shoots; later green stems emerge | Brown to green |
| Summer | Lush, green, pine-like or brush-like segmented stems; branched and whorled | Deep green |
| Autumn | Green stems begin to yellow/brown, die back to ground level | Green to brown |
| Winter | Mostly dormant, brown remains or no visible shoots, strong underground rhizomes | Brown/none |
Similar species
Field horsetail is often mistaken for these other related species, as shown below.
Marestail:
Great horsetail:
Rough (marsh) Horsetail:
Rough Horsetail:
The main differences between Horsetail and Marestail explained:
- Field horsetail: Land based. Fern-like, branched stems, distinct segments, bottle-brush silhouette, brown spore cones in spring.
- Mare’s Tail: An aquatic plant. Unbranched or sparsely branched, upright shoots, found in water, soft and no visible segments.
How to remove Horsetail
Due to the difficulty in removing this plant we advise contacting us to get advice and a quote for treatment or removal. We can offer a range of options from a herbicide programme to digging it up.