Ephedra californica ~ Desert Tea

Ephedra californica has a vertical linearity that could make this medium sized shrub fit into an ornamental grass garden as easily as a succulent or drought tolerant garden. The gray-green leaves provide a matte contrast to the cone-like clusters of flowers at the joints of the upper stems. Ephedra californica blooms from early Spring into early Summer. Desert tea grows to 3-4 feet tall and 4-5 feet wide. Ephedra has been used medicinally, care should be taken in its use as it can easily be overdone. Ephedra californica grows on a variety of soil types in the grassland and chaparral throughout Southern California up to 3000 feet elevation.