Tall Horsetail (Equisetum hyemale)

Family: Equisetaceae | Edibility: Edible (2/5)

Bloom Color: Unknown. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring. Equisetum species - horsetail family are Creeping, perenial, Branching rootstocks, rooted at the nodes. The Arial stems may be annual or Perennial, are cylindrical, fluted, simple or with whorled branches at the jointed nodes. The internodes are usually hollow. The Surfaces of the stems are covered with Silica. The Cones are terminal.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Shoots, Roots/Tubers

Harvest Seasons: Spring, Early Summer, Late Summer, Fall, Winter

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Strobil (the fertile shoots in spring) - cooked. An asparagus substitute. Caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. Roots - dried and then cooked. A source of starch. Caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. — Strobil (the fertile shoots in spring) - cooked.; An asparagus substitute.; Caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.; Roots - dried and then cooked.

Habitat & North American Range

Shady streambanks etc, to 500 metres. (Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9, Zone 10)