Full Sun

Rainwater Only

Mature Size: 2-6’X 3-5’
Blooming Season: Spring
Flower Color: Yellow

Joint-firs are grown for the color of their broomy evergreen stems which, depending upon the species, may be pale blue (Ephedra equisetina), blue-gray (Ephedra nevadensis) or bright green (Ephedra viridis). All add year-round color and interesting texture to gardens and require minimal water once established. Joint-firs native to the Southwest have brown papery seed-cones while the Asian species have pea-sized red fruits that are quite showy.

Full Sun

Low Water

Mature Size: 10’X 6’
Blooming Season: Early Spring
Flower Color: Yellowish

A shrub-like tree that’s native to dry mountain slopes between 4,000 and 9,000 feet in elevation. Because it is very slow growing, it can make an excellent hedge or small character tree. Small flowers appear briefly in spring, then yield to seeds with 2- to 3-inch-long plumes. The bark is light gray, almost white, and the small leathery leaves are dark green above and fuzzy white below. Water to establish, then the tree can go unirrigated except in the hottest, driest weather.