Hippuris, Genus, vulgaris, Species,
- Genus & species
common Mare's tail
Circumboreal: Europe, northern Asia, and North America
Overview
Hippuris vulgaris, common mare-tail, is an aquatic perennial in the family Plantaginaceae that roots in mud and sends erect, unbranched green shoots above the water surface. The emergent stems stand 4-24 inches (10-60 cm) tall and bear regular whorls of 6 to 12 narrow, linear leaves 0.4-1.5 inches (1-4 cm) long, giving a bottle-brush profile. Submerged shoots earlier in the season carry longer, limp, paler leaves. It spreads by creeping rhizomes in soft sediment to form dense stands in shallow still or slow water and on wet mud at the margins of ponds, lakes, ditches, and slow rivers. The flowers are minute and petal-less, sitting singly in the leaf axils of the emergent stems in summer, and are wind-pollinated. Despite the name and look, it is unrelated to the spore-bearing horsetails (Equisetum). It dies back to the rhizome in winter and reshoots in spring. One limitation is its vigorous spread, which can crowd small ponds and shallow margins.
Native Range
Hippuris vulgaris has a wide circumboreal range across Europe, northern and central Asia, and North America, growing in shallow fresh to slightly brackish water and on wet mud. It ranges from lowland ponds to mountain and arctic pools.Suggested Uses
Grown as a marginal and shallow-water plant in wildlife ponds, pool edges, and bog gardens, set in mud or planting baskets in up to 24 inches (60 cm) of water. The upright stems give vertical structure and shelter for pond insects and amphibians.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height4" - 2'
Width/Spread1' - 3'
Bloom Information
Tiny petal-less flowers open in the leaf axils of the emergent stems from June to August. They have no conspicuous parts and are wind-pollinated, so they pass almost unseen. Small one-seeded nut-like fruits ripen later in summer, though spread is mostly by rhizome.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
greenish, inconspicuousFoliage Description
greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Hippuris vulgaris grows in full sun in shallow still or slow fresh water up to about 24 inches (60 cm) deep, rooted in fertile mud or loam. It is hardy across a wide climate range, roughly USDA zones 3 to 10, and dies back to the rhizome each winter. It spreads quickly by rhizome and can fill small ponds, so it is often grown in planting baskets to limit its reach. It needs no feeding when rooted in fertile pond sediment. Plants are increased by dividing rooted rhizome sections in spring. It has few pests of concern in pond settings.Pruning
Excess stems and rhizome are thinned in spring or summer to keep open water and limit spread. Faded top growth is cut down or left to die back over winter. Sections of rhizome left in mud regrow, so removal is repeated as needed.Container Growing
Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 3 gallons