Oooh...good question! I found some of this in our backyard when we first built our home in 2001. It came back the first several years but I haven't seen it lately. It is really neat looking stuff!
Kristy :)

Neat, yes. But leave it where you find it - don't transplant it. This is a member of the Equisetum genus, and is terribly invasive if it gets what it wants. In those places, it is far worse than Creeping Charlie, as it has a very, very deep stoliniferous root system. I am not even sure if herbicides work on this plant.

Some in the genus are called Horsetails. I would call this one a Scouring rush. Not even remotely related to bamboo.

Interesting! Thanks for the info. I guess I am relieved mine is gone. Although, where we built was wild before we built and when I found the plant there was only three or four of these poking up.
Kristy :)