Ephedra, Bluestem (Ephedra equisetina), packet of 10 seeds, organic
$6.95
Family: Joint Fir (Ephedraceae)
Hardy to Zones 3 to 10
(Blue Stem Joint Fir, Mu-zei-ma-huang) Perennial, primitive subshrub native to the arid steppes of China and Russia. Rare. Extremely robust on the landscape. Traditional usage (TCM): a secondary source of Ma-huang. Sow seeds on surface of sandy mix, cover with 1 inch of sand, tamp securely and keep warm and evenly moist until germination, which takes 14 days. Individuate seedlings to pots and grow on for a year before transplanting to landscape. Plant prefers sun and very fast draining soils. Mulch with sand or volcanic rock. Space plants 3 feet apart.
Packet of 10 seeds, Certified Organically Grown
Out of stock
Question
Sandy –
What parts of the plant are used for energy and how are they prepared?
What can the berries be used for?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Sandy, I think it might make sense for you to get a copy of “Making Plant Medicine.” Anyhow in answer to your question the part historically used is the stem, sometimes prepared by removing the nodes, sometimes not. The berries are sweet, edible and harmless. They are usually left on the plant until the seeds, internal to the berry, are ripe. That is their best use–to make seeds. richo
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Question
Jenn –
I live in humid Arkansas. Root rot would definitely be a concern if I plant this in my landscape, which is very clay and often soggy in spring and fall. Do you think it would be ok kept in a container on south-facing covered porch?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Jenn, Thanks for contacting. Ephedra can be container grown and often starts out that way, working the plant up to size before transplanting out. The feedback I get from people who keep it in a container is, that the plant lives on and on but generally doesn’t produces substantive (harvestable) aerial parts, also recalcitrant to flower when potted. I really wonder about your situation. I believe you can grow the plant in the soil described by giving a 4-inch mulch of volcanic pumice. Check the video at this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xzt4IT7LfCc&t=14s
richo
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Question
Shona –
Im considering giving these a go as you have advised they’re essier to have success with. Q: how long will the seeds keep? I’m not quite ready to set up their environment correctly yet.
Also in central TX we do get cold 2 months in winter but mostly cold rain. Should I keep them in a flat to transport for the 1st year then cover carefully the next once planted? Thanks!
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Richo Cech –
Hello Shona, The seeds increase in viability for the first 6 months of storage and remain viable for up to 2 years. The seedlings need to be kept in gallon pots for a year before transplanting to landscape. These are pretty heat tolerant, they should work in your zone. They will be sold out within the next few weeks. Richo
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Shona –
Excellent. Sounds like it will work. Ordering now.
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Jasper Shide (verified owner) –
I’ve personally found the Ephedras to be extremely finicky to start and maintain, but this species in particular hasn’t given me much trouble. Sterilizing the seed with hydrogen peroxide, nicking the edges of the seed coat and soaking in warm water for 12 hours before planting in sterile soil led to germination in just under a week and greatly reduced instances of root rot. From there it’s just a matter of reducing watering to the appropriate levels, a process made less stressful with the knowledge that a wilted seedling can be revived but a drowned one can’t.
Oh, and when in doubt just neglect this plant – it seems to prefer it.
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Question
Gerardo David Barragán Garzon –
It is safe to ship and how different it is from other species in terms of ephedrine and male / female germination
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Richo Cech –
Safe to ship within the USA and rather similar in constituent profile to Ephedra sinica. I have found that the germination is about 50/50 female/male. r
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Gerardo David Barragán Garzon –
and for Mexico, how long will it take to arrive?
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Richo Cech –
We cannot ship to Mexico–most packages never arrive.
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Question
Robert Richmond (verified owner) –
Will these cross pollinate my ephedra sinica?
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Richo Cech –
no, they are distinct species
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Question
Dan Butler (verified owner) –
So do I want to give them any type of nutrients or do I give them just water? And when watered how much should I give them? Is any cactus potting mix okay to use?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Dan,
The plants will derive nutrients from the substrate. Any good cactus mix should contain 50% compost or soil which will be good for the ephedras. Optimally these get transplanted eventually to the landscape. No, you never fertilize them. Water only after surface dries out. Water in the usual manner, neither too much nor too little.
Richo
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Ian Maas –
Seems you’ve had a run on the ephedra seed. maybe next year. Are you familiar with ephedra distachya. Might be a European species.
Thanks Richo!
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Richo Cech –
Hello Ian, You were keeping close track i think. I decided to personally plant the rest of the seeds. Probably I’ll have more next year, these are fairly dependable, and I’m playing with the idea of enabling the plants. As for distachya, that’s the sea grape joint fir and I haven’t grown that yet and want to. It is very fruit productive. The distribution is not unlike sinica–gritty soils of the chinese and russian steppes. Richo
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Question
judith –
Will this tolerate dry summers?
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Admin Richo Cech –
Yes, and in fact if the summer be of the moist kind, a deep mulch of volcanic cinder or coarse sharp sand will be critical to the survival of the plants–they do no like to have their feet (or their crown) wet.
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Question
Jessica Woltring –
is this plant poisonous?
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Admin Richo Cech –
no
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