Equisetum fluviatile

Equisetum fluviatile, or Swamp Horsetail, is a perennial plant found in wet riverbanks or shallow ponds, that is hardy and evergreen in winter. Its erect stems give it a very graphic appearance. With a vibrant green colour and upright, thin, quite flexible stems, they have a fresh and slender look. Their verticality is highly appreciated in all spaces and enhances the roundness of their neighbours. It is a plant that thrives in moderately rich and slightly acidic soil, tolerates frost, and can tolerate a semi-shaded exposure, although it prefers the sun.

Equisetum fluviatile is native to Eurasia. Preferring damp to waterlogged areas, it is used by the edge of ponds or in shallow water. In a pond, plant it between 0 and 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 in) of water. It is a plant from the Equisetaceae family, like all horsetails. Its rhizomatous roots tend to vigorously colonise its environment. It can therefore become invasive if not contained. Two solutions are possible: install a root barrier or place it in a pot or container. It thrives perfectly well with this type of cultivation, allowing you to position it as you wish. Just make sure to water it and keep it in a moist substrate. This way, you can play with its slender and contemporary silhouette.

Swamp Horsetail reaches a height of about 60 to 80 cm (24 to 32 in) with a width of 30 cm (12 in). Its stems are quite flexible, straight, and often tightly packed (especially if confined in a limited space). They are hollow and have a cylindrical shape. Considered as "living fossils," they have been present on Earth for a very long time. They have retained characteristics that can still surprise us today. They reproduce through spores, do not have remarkable flowering, and have leaves that reduce to small grey vertical lines highlighted by a black ring. Positioned regularly on the stems, they mark segments of 3 to 10 cm (1 to 4 in) that grow with the plant. Their tops may be topped with a small ovoid brown and black fruit. It bears whorled branches and a crown of black teeth at its tip.

Equisetum fluviatile is highly valued for creating graphic, streamlined, and minimalist atmospheres. In wet areas, it forms straight lines and curves, and composes cylindrical masses, according to your choice of placement. It contrasts elegantly with round, fluffy, or creeping plants. It is an easy perennial that requires little monitoring and proves to be very long-lasting.