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Weird plant growing on the garden

Javi.xeneizeJavi.xeneize Posts: 193
in Plants
Hi

i have noticed a long branch growing like crazy, and other three smaller branches are starting to grow. I have no idea what it is

can you help me to identify it?

thanks
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Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I’m not certain about this but it could be Equisetum giganteum. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Javi.xeneizeJavi.xeneize Posts: 193
    But this is a South American plant isn’t it? Is this something that can grow in the uk?
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited November 2020
    I’ve seen a large stand of it growing in a sheltered garden in East Anglia. I don’t know whether they give it any additional protection in the winter. It is in a very sheltered spot. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Could it be Dutch Rush (Eguisetum hyemale)?

  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    Snake grass or horsetail.. Equisetum, as Dove said.  Get rid of it.  Dig it out and throw it in your garbage (not the compost). If it grows back, let it get a few inches long.. squish it a bit and spray it with glyphosate. 
    Utah, USA.
  • Javi.xeneizeJavi.xeneize Posts: 193
    Get rid of it? It can’t be of any use?
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    @Javi.xeneize - Blue Onion gardens in the US, where maybe giant horsetail is a menace.  Common horsetail is an impossible weed in British gardens but your plant isn't the small, weedy one.  It could be Equisetum hyemale, which doesn't try to take over the world... but I'm not sure.
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • Javi.xeneizeJavi.xeneize Posts: 193
    I don’t know... I’ve been reading it gets into your garden from a neighbour garden and none of my neighbours have this. Having said that, the first time I spotted it was in September and there was only one on them, quite small. Now there is one big and two small ones growing so it’s kind of spreading

    i have heard you can do tea with horsetails, not sure if makes sense to keep it and use it for infusions?
  • strelitzia32strelitzia32 Posts: 758
    I have this in my pond, carefully controlled. It will be an absolute menace if you don't manage it - you can already see in your photo that it's spreading out and putting up new shoots. It's hardy and very difficult to kill, loves wet conditions. I wouldn't have it uncontrolled in the ground.

    If you like it, and you're prepared to deal with the consequences, you can gently bend the tall stems over. The inside is like bamboo - hollow and strong in compartments. If you bend it to more than 45 degrees, you'll get small, new vertical growth emerging from each of the rings/compartments. It creates a very pretty effect. I'll post a photo if you want to see what I mean.
  • Javi.xeneizeJavi.xeneize Posts: 193
    Thanks. For me the key question is... what can this plant offer to me? It’s not pretty, but maybe the stem is strong and I can use it to build things, or u can use the leaves for infusions 
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