Cultivation Of Crops: Give me the Dutch Rush!

This week we check in with Queen of Greens to find out what is hot in our West Coast Evergreen Division. I sat down with Debbie Hartman to talk about an extremely popular botanical. It goes by a lot of aliases; Scouring Rush, Snake Grass, Puzzlegrass, Bottle Brush, Paddock Pipes and my personal favorite Dutch Rush, which sounds like a new espresso drink at Starbucks.

Equisetum arrangement from Rene Van Rems

Dramatic Horsetail arrangement from Rene Van Rems.

What is this botanical? Its’ scientific name is Equisetum Hyemale and the most common name is Horsetail, although when you need to order please call Debbie and say, “Give me the Dutch Rush!” This plant has the distinction of being one of the oldest plants on earth. Equisetum (equis meaning horse and seta meaning bristle)is the single surviving genus of a class of vascular plants that date back to the mid-Devonian period, about 350 million years ago… and just think, you can buy it in 10 stem bunches.

Horsetail Bundles, 20 ten stem bunches makes a bundle.

Horsetails are a very popular floral design element, both as a linear in arrangements, and as a bendable line material which can be manipulated into abstract shapes. Interestingly, Horsetails didn’t rise to their current popularity until recently; Debbie has seen demand for Horsetails grow dramatically in the last 3 to 4 years. Our Horsetailsare graded to 42-44 inches tall, we also offer Ponytails which are the same plant, only graded to 25-27 inches. These are extremely popular for bouquet designers, notably in our popular Fields Collection.

Sun Pacific Bouquet offers Stargazer Fields

The ever popular Stargazer Fields Bouquet, from Sun Pacific Bouquet

“Headless Horsetails” appear not only in the super-natural Legend of Sleepy Hollow, but in the natural world as well. During certain stages in the horsetails development, the heads will fall off. The head is actually a cluster of spores and reproduces throughout the horsetails life cycle. Skilled designers can utilize horsetails in all stages of their development.

Sun Pacific Bouquet offers several Greens Bouquets, this one is Field of Greens

The term horsetail can be used to describe the many different types of equisetum; Equisetum Hyemale is the best floral product. We have a select group of people who go out and pick it on private lands around northern California. Most of these relationships have been cultivated over generations, and their various spots are closely held secrets. With Debbie’s years in the foliage and botanical business you get access to unparalleled expertise in native, local greens. She truly is the Queen of Greens.

A patch of wild growing Horsetails

Horsetails grow in stands, usually near river beds and in areas of disturbed ground. The plant can handle flooding, which is not a rare occurrence here in the temperate rainforests of Humboldt, Trinity and Del Norte Counties. Other uses for horsetail include drying it out and using it to scour and polish wood and metal products. The Japanese boil then dry it, to create a final polish for wood which produces a smoother finish than any sandpaper.

Equisetum growing wild in California, 2013

Close up of a Horsetail stand, taken by one of our pickers.

Our Horsetail crop is looking absolutely beautiful, so please call Debbie or your usual Sun Valley Sales Rep. and ask for our tall, straight and slender horsetails. Or put on your best pirate accent (International Talk Like a Pirate Day is coming September 19^th) and say,
“Give Me the Dutch Rush!”