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 Container Gardens Questions

Bluebonnets in pots in New Caney, TX
April 25, 2009 - My mother in New Caney (Texas), would like to plant Bluebonnets in some lovely terra cotta containers on her porch (and will hopefully mail me some dried pressings of my beloved state flower). Other t...
view the full question and answer

Looking for a summer through winter blooming container plant, for Phoenix.
October 28, 2010 - I'm in Phoenix. I'm looking for a perennial plant that will be planted in a container in a commercial setting, that is under a shaded pergola. She wants it to bloom in the winter and if carried int...
view the full question and answer

Containerized citrus foliage deformed
January 02, 2008 - I have three 2-year old potted grapefruit trees that have recently developed problems with the emergence of new leaves. The new leaves are stunted, deformed, often with wavy edges. Although it did ...
view the full question and answer

Native plants for small pots in sun in Austin
January 24, 2011 - Hello Mr. Smarty Plants! We are renting our house, so while we have a yard, the landlord would prefer us to only add plants to his landscaping in pots. I have filled some large ones, but have been una...
view the full question and answer

Native plants for container gardening in Houston
April 26, 2008 - Hi, we live a townhouse community in Houston, TX and have a decent sized backyard. I plan on devoting part of that to plant some potted flowers which are less than 6 ft tall (we can't plant anything ...
view the full question and answer

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