Both the sterile and fertile stems of scouring rush are stout, unbranched, evergreen, and grow up to 1.5 m tall. Scouring rush is common on moist to wet, shaded to open, undisturbed sites as well as disturbed sites such as roadsides and railroad embankments. The cell walls of Equisetum species contain silicon dioxide, making them quite abrasive. Native Americans used Equisetum hymale stems to polish wooden objects and early Europeans used the stems to scour wooden and pewter utensils. The stems have also been used to hone reeds for woodwind instruments.