About Horsetail Herb

This plant is a native of the temperate regions, although some species are found in the tropics where they can grow to a considerable size.

When I first started herb farming I suddenly noticed all these spiky things growing all over the floor of one of my polythene tunnels. Subsequently I discovered it was a very worthy herb, not an invasive weed.

The horsetail is a plant left over from prehistoric times. By the evidence of fossil remains, it has survived almost unchanged since the coal seams were laid. It does not flower but carries spores as do ferns, to which it is related. The fronds have a harsh feel to them; this is because uniquely the plant absorbs large quantities of silica from the soil. The Romans always used horsetail to clean their pots and pans, not just to make them clean but also, thanks to the silica, to make them non-stick. The plant was used in the middle ages as an abrasive by cabinet makers and to clean pewter, brass and copper, and for scouring wood containers and milk pans.

No plant, having survived so long, could escape myth and magic. This herb has been associated far and wide with various goblins, toads and snakes, and the Devil.

Species

Equisetum arvense

Horsetail

Hardy perennial. Ht 45cm (18in). The plant does not flower. It grows on a thin creeping rhizome producing 20cm (Sin) long grey/brown fertile shoots with 4-6 sheaths in spring. The shoots die off and the spores are spread just like ferns.

Cultivation

Propagation

I am not sure that this is necessary, but if you do require a supply of horsetail it may be of merit.

Cuttings

Each piece of horsetail root is capable of reproducing. In summer place small pieces I either in a seed or plug tray. Use the peat, bark mix of compost. Plant out in the following spring when the cuttings are well rooted.

Pests and Diseases

For a plant to have survived so long, it has to be pest- and disease free.

Maintenance

Spring: Make sure the plant is well contained and not wandering off.

Summer: Cut back plants that are beginning to die back to stop the spores spreading.

Autumn: Alter harvest, cut down to the ground, again to stop the spores spreading.

Winter: No protection necessary; very hardy.

Garden Cultivation

If grown in open ground unconfined, horsetail becomes a permanent inhabitant and is only eradicated with great difficulty'. Its root systems have been found to extend down a cliff face 12m (40ft), and breaking the rhizomes stimulates buds on the remainder to sprout and produce more growth.

If horsetail is to be introduced into the garden at all, and lo be honest I do not recommend it, it is best confined to a strong container partially sunk into the ground. Leave the rim visible so that the rhizomes cannot penetrate or creep over the top.

Harvest

The green/brown shoots look almost like minute Christmas trees and these are the parts that can be collected during the summer months. Dry them.

Container growing

The only sane way to grow horsetail is in a container using soil based compost. But be sure to cut it back in the summer to prevent spread by the spores. No need to feed, and it requires little watering. It can look attractive!

Culinary

It has been eaten as a substitute for asparagus, but I do not recommend it unless you are stuck on a desert island and there is no other food available.

Cosmetic

Horsetail Nail Strengthener

A simple method of improving easily broken nails is to immerse the finger tips in a decoction made by simmering 50g (2oz) of dry or fresh herb in 900ml/ 1½ pints/ 3¾ cup of water for 20 minutes.

Horsetail Hair Rinse and Tonic

Horsetail provides a good, all-round conditioner and helps the hair to a natural shine.

About 8 horsetail stems 15-20cm (6-8in) long 600ml (1 pint) of boiling water.

Bruise the horsetail stems with a spoon before adding boiling water to make an infusion. Cover and leave until lukewarm then strain off the liquid. After shampooing and rinsing, pour the infusion over the hair and massage into the scalp. Blot up excess moisture with a towel and comb through your hair. Cover your head with a warm towel and wait for 10 minutes before drying hair in the usual way.

Medicinal

This plant is a storehouse of minerals and vitamins, so herbalists recommended it in cases of amnesia and general debility. The tea enriches the blood, hardens fingernails and revitalizes lifeless hair. Its astringent properties help to strengthen the walls of the veins, tightening up varicose veins and help guard against fatty deposits in the arteries. It is also useful when white spots occur on the nails, which indicate a calcium imbalance in the body, as the silica encourages the absorption and use of calcium by the body.

Other uses

Stems have high silica content and can be used after diving to scour metal and polish pewter and fine woodwork. The whole plant yields a yellow ochre dye.