How to identify Horsetail

This article has been reviewed by our invasive plants expert:
Darren Greatbatch, Specialist Advisory Manager at Environment Controls Ltd. Last reviewed on 15th October 2026.

Horsetail or Marestail?

Here’s the main difference between Horsetail and Marestail:

Field horsetail or Horsetail (Equisetum): A land based plant with fern-like, branched stems, distinct segments, bottle-brush silhouette and brown spore cones in spring.
Marestail, Mare’s tail or Common mare’s tail (Hippuris vulgaris): An aquatic plant with unbranched or sparsely branched, upright shoots, found in water, soft and no visible segments.

So in summary, Horsetail grows on land and Marestail (image below) grows in water.

Common mare’s tail (Hippuris vulgaris). An aquatic water plant

General Identification of Field 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.

How to identify 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.

How to identify Field 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.

How to identify Field 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 to Field horsetail

Field horsetail is often mistaken for these other related species, as shown below.

Marestail:

Great horsetail:

Rough (marsh) Horsetail:

Rough Horsetail:

How to remove Field horsetail

Filed horsetail can be controlled by herbicide application, but this must be carried out at a specific time in its growth lifecycle and using the right chemical mix. The specialists here at Environment Controls have developed a unique tank mix that is far more effective than using a single herbicide.

Horsetail can also be dug out by excavation, often installing a root barrier afterwards is required.

Due to the difficulty in removing this plant we advise contacting us to get advice and a quote for treatment or removal. It’s vital to have Horsetail removed by professionals to avoid risk of reinfestation. Speak to the team to get advice or a quote.G

CONTACT A HORSETAIL SPECIALIST