Don’t horse around with equisetum

Equisetum is pretty cool if you like plants that are primitive. But there is a reason it’s been here for 300 million years. Once it settles into the landscape it sends its rhizomes six feet below, and not even the most tenacious gardener can be rid of it if it grabs.

Me? I’ve planted it twice and it died both times.

Also known as Horsetail (other species are more fern-like) it thrives at the water’s edge in wet soils. But it is equally happy in pots with regular water. Which is where you should plant equisetum if you don’t want to be pulling out pups for the rest of your live long days.

What plants do you wish you never planted?

I’ll go first—Four O’Clock, borage, Mexican Evening Primrose…..