Host an Event Volunteer Join Tickets

Support the plant database you love!

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Share

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants
See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

 
rate this answer
Not Yet Rated

Sunday - May 06, 2012

From: memphis, TN
Region: Southeast
Topic: Seed and Plant Sources, Container Gardens, Herbs/Forbs
Title: Need a source of mature horsetail plants in Memphis, TN.
Answered by: Jimmy Mills

QUESTION:

Where can I find mature horsetail plants in Memphis,Tn.? Need enough to fill a 6 foot long by one foot wide planter Need for it to look like it's been there forever.

ANSWER:


Horsetail plants are aquatic plants in the genus Equisetum, and have been around in some form since the Devonian Epoch (408-353 mya). This site has good photos of Horsetails.

Our NPIN Database shows nine species in North America with Equisetum arvense (Field horsetail) and  Equisetum hyemale (Canuela) occurring in Shelby County, Tennessee. The people at the Edward J. Meeman Biological Field Station of the University of Memphis could perhaps direct you to a local source of Equisetum.

 Davesgarden.com talks about a third species, and gives the name of a commercial source.

 

From the Image Gallery


Field horsetail
Equisetum arvense

Scouring-rush horsetail
Equisetum hyemale

More Seed and Plant Sources Questions

Replacing firs with smaller plants
October 22, 2009 - I want to pull out old fir bushes and plant smaller plants in their place. What could I buy that would take little care in my area?
view the full question and answer

Suppliers for Lantana urticoides
March 23, 2007 - I would like to plant yellow Lantana in my beds because of the hot drought conditions we have in north central Texas. Where can I find this to plant now?
view the full question and answer

Need a source for 100 lbs of Bluebonnet seeds.
April 16, 2010 - Where can one buy 100 lbs (yes lbs) of bluebonnet seeds? Any suggestions on where I can most economically do so? Trying to spread the love :)
view the full question and answer

Propagating trees in Pennsylvania
February 05, 2009 - I have been wanting to plant trees at our family camp for quite a few years now to help provide food for the wildlife during in preparation for the cold winters. As a college student, however, both f...
view the full question and answer

Source for Dichondra from Hillsboro TX
November 26, 2012 - Where can I get dichondra and info about it?
view the full question and answer

Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today.