How to Grow and Care for Joint-pines

The ephedra of China is a shrub resembling horsetail being native to China where its denomination comes from. It is the most important of the ephedra varieties being used for millennia. It is a small shrub 20 to 40 cm tall with articulated light green branches. The leaves are small, scaly, opposite and are joined by their base.

Sea grape was once feared to be extinct but was rediscovered in Slovakia before World War II. That knowledge was almost lost when the discoverer died in a concentration camp, but locals helped scientists rediscover it. The shrub is believed by some to be the "soma" of Hindu and Zoroastrian texts.

Green Ephedra is indigenous to drought-prone areas of the western United States. The green Ephedra can be toxic, so it shouldn't be ingested without first consulting an expert. It is also toxic to most livestock, although many large wild animals eat it regularly.

Nevada ephedra (Ephedra nevadensis) is a perennial evergreen shrub native to the southwestern United States. It blooms in spring with small yellow flowers. Its leaves fall off quickly, leaving the stemmy bush looking like a broom. Nevada ephedra produces seeds at sporadic intervals that spread easily and feed the local wildlife.

Joint pine is a sun-loving, tall evergreen shrub that is not very frost-hardy. This is a drought and lime-tolerant plant with pungent stems. Joint pine is used in flower beds when cultivated. Its seeds have wings, which are spread by the wind and occasionally insects.