Sow in a sandy potting soil at 65-70F; expect germination rates from 50-80% after about 11 days. Reduce humidity on germination as seedlings are prone to damping off.
Seedlings do not have a strong root system and are prone to transplant shock; it is recommended to grow seedlings to a minimum of 4" tall before transplanting them.
Likes a sandy soil and dry conditions, but very hardy and drought-tolerant once established. It is known to have been successfully grown outdoors over multiple seasons in the British Isles.
Propagate by root division in Autumn or Spring.
Ensure that temperatures are mild and all chance of frost has passed before planting out, as Chinese Ephedra is a very hardy plant.Harvesting can be done throughout the year.
Ephedra is a dioecious species, so both male and female plants are needed to obtain seeds. Plants will not usually flower/fruit until they are two to three years old.
These estimates for how long Chinese Ephedra takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.
Average 11 days | Min days | Max days (0)
Average days | Min days | Max days (0)
Average 1460 days | Min days | Max days (0)
Chinese ephedra, Ma Huang, Jointfir, Joint-pine
Ephedra sinica Stapf