Giant Horsetail
Equisetum giganteum
- Native to:
- Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panamá, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay
gabriellaufer,Frank Vincentz,Gabriela Ruellan,flo grattarola,flo grattarola,flo grattarola,flo grattarola,noelia,noelia,gabriellaufer,Marcia Stefani (www.flickr.com),Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Equisetophyta | - Horsetails
- Family:
- Equisetaceae
- Genus:
- Equisetum
- Species:
- Equisetum giganteum
- USDA Symbol:
- EQGI
Growth Characteristics
- Height:
- 500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- small mammals, birds
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Resprouts vigorously from deep rhizomes after fire or cutting.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, water-retentive, organic soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Thrives in wetland areas and along riverbanks
Propagation & Germination
- Notes:
- Reproduces primarily by spores and rhizomes; spore viability is short-lived and requires moist conditions for germination.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI