Mare's tail (Hippuris vulgaris)
Care, watering, light and tips for Mare's tail on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Plantaginaceae
- Difficulty: Moderate care
- Watering: every 7 days
- Light: Partial shade
- Temperature: 10–30 °C
About Mare's tail
Hippuris vulgaris, commonly known as mare's tail or hesterumpe, is a perennial aquatic plant with emergent stems and whorled leaves resembling a horse's tail. It is ideal for ponds, wetlands, or cold-water aquariums, adding fine texture and a natural touch to edges and shallow areas.
Native range
Temperate and cold regions of the Northern Hemisphere (Europe, Asia, North America)
Care tips
It requires full sun to partial shade and a nutrient-rich substrate at the bottom of the pond or in submerged pots. Maintain a consistent water level, covering at least the base of the plant, and ensure the water is well-oxygenated. Avoid complete drying out of the substrate, as it is a strictly aquatic plant.
How to save a dying Mare's tail
- Warning signs
- Soft or whitish stems, yellowing or blackened leaves, stagnant or rotting growth.
- First aid
- Check water: must be clean and oxygenated. Ensure roots aren't suffocated in substrate. Replant if water is stagnant.
- What kills it
- Stagnant water, poor nutrient substrate, lack of direct sunlight or too much.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes, if you act quickly. Timely water and substrate change can revive it.