Nevada ephedra is primarily native to the desert regions of the North American southwest. It has not established significant ranges outside of its native habitat, as the available data does not indicate widespread introduction to other major regions or continents.

Nevada ephedra is a persistent weed in gardens within the southwestern United States. This unsightly plant has a dry and scraggly look and produces an abundant number of seeds during its flowering years. Seeds are easily dispersed by wildlife and remain viable in the soil for up to 30 years. This enables nevada ephedra to grow and spread prolifically and controlling it can be cumbersome. Removing plants before they produce seed cones is essential. Seedlings sprout and establish quickly as well, and are extremely hardy and weather tolerant. However, their roots are fragile, so manual pulling of the entire root is an effective means of removal. Nevada ephedra is a producer of allergenic pollen, so take care when handling directly.