Ephedra
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 ephedra viridis green mormon tea jointfir seed plant
#A5765  Ephedra viridis
Green Mormon Tea (Green Ephedra, Joint-Fir)

Member of the Gnetaceae family, ephedra is a hardy multi branched shrub sometimes with trailing branches that look like reeds or rushes.  The leaves are small and rather nondescript,  resembling papery scales.  The stems function as leaves and have a jointed appearance.  E.viridis is native to the western US.

Low growing to about 5ft in height, ephedras are oftern used in landscaping as a xeriscape plant and in rock gardens, though they are rather plain in appearance and have nondescript blooms.  Ephedras are, however, extremely drought tolerant and thrive in poor gravel soils.  They also provide a bright spot of green among sagebrush.   The plants are an important grazing plant for wildlife, though it can prove toxic to domestic cattle and sheep. 

Ephedra has been prized medicinally and is used to treat numerous ailments including backache, cuts, colds and asthma. 

Propagation can be performed by means of cuttings or sowing seed.  Seeds should be planted as soon as they are ripe, but saved seed can be used if cold stratified for 90 days prior to planting.

Hardy to -10F (-23.3C)
 
#A5765    Packet of Seeds   Approximately  100 seeds    $12.00

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