Mormon tea

Ephedra viridis

Family:: Ephedraceae
Elevation:: 3,000 ft – 7,500 ft
Region:: Southwest

A stiff, broom-like shrub of slender bright-green, nearly leafless jointed stems that photosynthesize in place of foliage, common on dry mesas and rocky slopes. Its clean architectural form stays green year-round in the high desert.

Care · tuned to the Southwest

Water

Extremely drought tolerant; needs no supplemental water once established. Overwatering and wet soils cause root rot. Indifferent to monsoon rains on well-drained sites.

Sun & exposure

Full sun; handles intense high-elevation light and reflected heat.

Soil

Prefers dry, rocky, gravelly, or sandy well-drained soil; tolerates poor, alkaline, and caliche ground.

In the Southwest

Cold-hardy and well suited to high-desert elevations. A gymnosperm rather than a flowering plant, it produces small cones instead of true flowers, with pollen shed in spring. Low, slow, and essentially maintenance-free; needs little to no pruning. Provides browse and cover for wildlife.

Common problems & fixes

Essentially pest-free — one of the toughest desert shrubs
Fix — Site in full sun with sharp drainage and expect virtually no pest or disease issues.
Root rot from overwatering or rich, wet soil
Fix — Withhold supplemental water once established and keep it out of irrigated, soggy beds.

Pets & toxicity

Generally low risk and historically brewed as a tea; this native species contains little or no ephedrine, unlike Asian Ephedra. Not a notable poisoning hazard to household pets, though large quantities are best avoided.

Easy to confuse with

Ephedra nevadensis — grayer-green stems
Ephedra torreyana — bluish stems and a more sprawling habit

Sources

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