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Mormon Tea, Green Jointfir, Green Mormon Tea
Ephedra viridis
Ephedra viridis can be made into a distinctive pleasant tea and used as a beverage. Has been used as a beverage by American Indians, Mexicans, and the Mormon pioneers, thus the name Mormon Tea. This leafless shrub is made up of many erect bright to yellow-green twigs. 'False flowers' appear at the twig joints in late winter or spring and look different depending on the sex of the plant. Male plants have stamen-like structures and look like tiny pale yellow flowers; female plants produce tiny, occasionally pink tinged, yellow-green cones with 2 seeds. Seeds are a food source for quail. Little to no maintenance, do not overwater. Ephedras are actually more closely related to conifers then flowering plants.
- Plant type: Shrub, Native
- Maintenance level: Low
- Water requirement: Low
- Sun exposure: Full, Reflected Heat
- Height range: 2–4 Feet
- Width range: 2–4 Feet
- Growth rate: Slow
- Seasonal habit: Evergreen
- Flower color: Yellow, Green
- Flower season: Spring, Winter
- Fruit color: Green, Yellow, Pink
- Fruit season: Spring, Summer
- General foliage color: Yellow, Green
- Design style: Pool Friendly
- Hardiness cold tolerance: -5 °F
- Soil preference: Sand, Rocky, Well Drained, Dry
- Canopy value: 7 ft²
- Native location: Southwestern U. S. and northern Mexico
- PH preference: Alkaline/Basic, Neutral
- Sunset zones: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
- USDA hardiness zone: 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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