Ephedra equisetina aka Mongolian Ephedra

Ephedra equisetina is a shrub in the Ephedraceae family. Its common names include bluestem joint fir and Mongolian ephedra. It comes from temperate Asia, with a broad native range. Kew places it from the Caucasus to Russia's southern Far East. Other sources record it across Central Asia, Mongolia and China. It grows in dry, rocky mountain sites. In China, records place it at 2,625–9,843 feet [800–3,000 metres].

This upright shrub grows about 3–6 feet [0.9–1.8 metres] tall. Its spread can match its height. PFAF gives a smaller size of 5 feet [1.5 metres] tall. That source lists a spread near 3 feet [1 metre]. The stiff stems stay green through the year. Their blue-green to blue colour gives the plant its common name. Fine grooves run along the stems, which have short joints. The small, brownish leaves sit in opposite pairs. They join for much of their length, forming a sheath. Oregon State describes the leaves as deciduous, unlike the evergreen stems.

The plant bears pollen cones and seed cones, rather than flowers. Yellow pollen cones grow singly or in small groups. Seed cones sit opposite each other at the stem nodes. They become oval as they mature. The fleshy red structures described as fruits are almost round. Male and female cones grow on separate plants. A lone plant cannot set seed by itself. Grow both sexes when seed production is the aim. The supplied sources give no season for cone production.

Choose a sunny site with soil that drains well. Oregon State also lists tolerance of partial shade. PFAF supports sandy and loamy soils for this species. It lists mildly acid, neutral and mildly alkaline soil as suitable. The plant accepts dry or moist ground and tolerates drought. Oregon State also notes that it withstands heat. That source places its cold tolerance at USDA Zone 4. PFAF gives no firm rating for British winters. Its upright form and blue stems offer interest in planted beds.

PFAF lists the raw fruit as edible, with a low food-use rating. It also gives the species a high medicinal-use rating. Its notes describe stem preparations that affect breathing and heart activity. These records do not establish that home use is safe. PFAF reports no known hazards, but this is not proof of safety. The supplied species accounts name no pests or diseases. They also provide no firm basis for a pet-toxicity rating.