Horsetail

Equisetum

* photo taken on Apr 17 2016 in Columbia, MD

Equisetum arvense ( Common Horsetail )
Abundant in the Windsor, Essex County, Lake Erie Islands and Ohio shoreline region before 1900. It was also abundant at Detroit, Michigan during that time. In Alberta, it is found throughout. It is a widespread native of North America ( from northern Alaska to the arctic islands to southern Greenland; south throughout most of the U.S. ).

* photo taken on May 4 2018 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 13 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Apr 12 2024 in Columbia, MD

Equisetum fluviatale ( Water Horsetail )
Deciduous, reaching up to 4 feet in height. Abundant in the Windsor, Essex County and Lake Erie Islands region before 1900. It was also abundant at Detroit, Michigan during that time. It is abundant on the Canadian Prairies. In Alberta; it is found throughout except for the arid southeast. It is a widespread native of North America ( from northern Alaska to far northwest Northwest Territories to Great Slave Lake, N.W.T. to Churchill, Manitoba to the shores of James Bay to Labrador; south through much of the U.S. ).
The nodes are up to 2 inches apart.
A true aquatic plant, this plant is often used in ponds. It prefers deep wet soil.

Equisetum hyemale ( Rough Horsetail )
Also called Scouring Rush. A fast spreading perennial, reaching up to 5 ( rarely 10 feet ) x 8 feet, that is native to Europe ( except southern coast ), Asia and most of North America ( as far north as central Alaska to central Yukon to Great Slave Lake to central Manitoba to Pagwa and Hearst, Ontario to Gaspe to Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia ). Abundant in the Windsor, Essex County and Lake Erie Islands region before 1900. It was especially common in sandy Juniperus virginiana savanna around Point Pelee. In Alberta; it is found throughout.
The stout upright, bamboo-like stems are gray-green with internodes 4 inches apart.
Hardy zones 4 to 9 ( 2 & 3 for most northerly populations ) in partial shade on permanently moist to wet soils. Propagation is from division.

* photos taken on Mar 7 2013 in Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on Aug 3 2014 @ National Zoo, Washington, DC

* photos taken on May 27 2017 @ Meadowlark Botanical Gardens, Vienna, VA

* photos taken on Nov 10 2020 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on Aug 1 2022 in Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

var affine
Larger growing, up to 7 feet in height.

Equisetum robustum ( Giant Horsetail )
Also called Equisetum hyemale var robustum. Reaches a maximum height of 8 feet. It was locally abundant on the Lake Erie Islands and Ohio shoreline before 1900; generally absent elsewhere in the Windsor/Essex County region.

* photos taken on Apr 23 2017 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

Equisetum scirpoides ( Dwarf Scouring Rush )
Evergreen and spreading in habit, reaching up to 8 inches in height. It is a widespread native of North America ( from far northern Alaska to far northwest Northwest Territories to Great Slave Lake, N.W.T. to Churchill, Manitoba to northern Ontario to Newfoundland ). In Alberta; it is found throughout except for the arid southeast.
The thin leaves are deep olive-green. The nodes are up to 1.3 inches apart.

* photos taken on July 9 2022 in Bayfield, ON

* photos taken on July 8 2023 in Thornbury, ON

Equisetum sylvaticum ( Wood Horsetail )
Deciduous, reaching up to 2 feet in height. It is a widespread native of North America ( from Kotzebue, Alaska to far northwest Northwest Territories to far southwest Nunavut to northern Quebec and Labrador and south ). Moderately common in the Windsor, Essex County and Lake Erie Islands region before 1900. In Alberta; it is found throughout except for the arid southeast. It is found in wooded swamps in the wild.
The internodes are around 2.5 inches in length.

* photo taken by Robert H. Mohlenbrock @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

Equisetum telmateia ( Great Horsetail )
Deciduous, reaching up to 6.5 feet in height. It is native to western North America ( from Anchorage, Alaska to southeast British Columbia to northern Idaho; south into northern California ).
The internodes are about 3.5 inches in length.

Foxtail Lily

Eremurus
Thrives in full sun on neutral to very alkaline, fertile, well drained soil ( it is important to not plant to close to other plants which may block sunlight from the foliage ). Propagation is from division after blooming or seed during autumn for the species.
The cut flower stalks make stunning flower arrangements but on most of these look so great in the garden who would want to cut them.
They are best planted in the back of the border or with plants that develop very late in the season. Do not plant annuals close too close to where Eremurus grow in the garden since you risk accidently damaging the roots and loosing the plant.

* historic archive photo

* historic archive photo

Eremurus aitchisonii
Reaches up to 6.5 feet in height, bearing thick, white flower spires.

Eremurus himalaicus ( Himalayan Desert Candle )
A perennial, reaching up to 8 x 2.5 ( rarely over 6 ) feet, that is native from Tajikistan & Afghanistan to the northwest Himalayas; south to Kashmir and northern India.
The linear leaves, up to 48 x 2.5 ( rarely over 24 ) inches, are bright green to blue-green. The foliage dies down after flowering. The foliage is often used as a vegetable in its native range.
The pure white flowers, up to 1.3 inches across, are borne on very showy, dense spikes, up to 3 feet x 4 inches in size, during late spring into early summer.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 in full sun on just about any light, well drained soil. Plant on a slope or a raised bed where winter wetness is a problem.

Eremurus x isabellinus
The hybrids between Eremurus olgae & E. stenophyllus. The foliage clump on these moderately fast growing perennials is usually up to 20 x 24 inches in size, the flower stalks much taller. The fragrant flowers are borne early to mid summer, the plant goes dormant after that. The flowers attract butterflies. Hardy zones 5 to 8 ( protected sites with deep winter mulch recommended north of 7 ) in full sun on light, well drained soil. The flower stalks may need to be staked on windy sites. The bulbs are planted 5 inches deep and 10 inches apart during early autumn.

* photos taken on Mar 30 2020 in Columbia, MD

'Brutus'
Reaches up to 6 feet in height, bearing pure white flowers.

* photos taken on May 29 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 1 2021 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on May 20 2024 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 21 2026 in Columbia, MD

'Cleopatra'
Very vigorous, reaching up to 5.5 feet, with intense deep orange blooms on spikes up to 24 inches in length. It is absolutely stunning in bloom.
The foliage is deep green.

* photos taken on May 21 2020 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on May 29 2022 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on June 5 2022 in Columbia, MD

'Emmy Ro'
Reaches up to 7 feet in height, bearing flowers that are bright orange on the outside, pale yellow on the inside.

'Oase'
Reaches up 6 feet, bearing flowers that are pale pink, later fading to yellow.
The foliage is blue-green.

'Pinokkio'
Reaches up to 6 feet, bearing flowers that are deep orange in bud, opening to intense deep yellow.
It is absolutely stunning in bloom.

'Roford'
Reaches up to 5.5 feet, with intense salmon-pink flowers. It is stunning in bloom, especially when mixed with equally tall deep flowers.

'Romance'
Reaches up to 6 feet in height, bearing dense, bright salmon-pink flower plumes.
The flowers appear late spring and are long lasting into early summer.

'Yellow Giant'
Bears broad, intensely deep golden-yellow flower plumes up to 8 ( reports of 10 ) feet in height.

Eremurus olgae
A perennial, reaching up to 6.5 x 3.5 feet in size, that is native to Turkestan.
The very showy pink or white flowers are borne on huge spikes during a 2 month period from early to mid summer.
Hardy zones 6 to 9.

Eremurus regelii
Reaches up to 8 feet in height, bearing abundant, reddish-brown flowers on narrow spires during late spring into early summer.
It is native to Uzbekistan.

Eremurus robustus ( Giant Desert Candle )
A vigorous perennial, reaching up to 10 x 4 feet, that is native from Turkestan to Afghanistan.
The rough-edged, linear leaves are up to 4 ( rarely over 3.3 ) feet x 2 inches in size. The foliage is bright green at first, turning to blue-green.
The very pale pink flowers, up to 1.5 inches across, are borne on very showy, dense large spikes, up to 4 feet in length, during early summer. Mature clumps may bear up to 800 flowers on a single stalk.
Much hardier than other species, north to zone 4 or 3.​ It requires full sun, it is more wind and winter moisture tolerant than other Eremurus but still requires a sandy, well drained site.

* historic archive photos

Eremurus stenophyllus
A perennial, reaching up to 5 x 2 feet, that is native from Iran to Turkestan.
The linear leaves, up to 12 x 0.5 inches, are hairy, gray-green.
The bright yellow ( later fading to pale orange ) flowers, up to 1.6 inches across, are borne on spikes up to 18 inches in length, during early summer.. A single plant may bear up to 12 or more flower spikes at a time.
Hardy zones 5 to 7 in full sun on light, well drained soil.

Eremurus turkestanicum ( Turkestan Foxtail Lily )
A perennial, reaching a maximum size of 5 x 3 feet, that is native to dry mountain grasslands in central Asia.
The slender leaves form a basal rosette.
The yellowish-green flowers are borne on a tall spike.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 in full sun on very well drained, sandy soils.