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| Category: Shrub |
| Family: Ephedraceae (Mormon-teas) |
| Origin: South America |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Golden |
| Bloomtime: Spring |
| Height: 6-10 feet |
| Width: 6-12 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Summer Dry: Yes |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 10-15° F |
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Ephedra tweediana (Tramontana) - A interesting climbing shrub with dark green wiry thin flexible jointed leafless branches that, with support, can grow to 12 feet or more and then arch outward and down with a thick trunk that is fissured and twisted. In early spring months (March in Santa Barbara) appear the golden primitive male reproductive structures (all of our plants are male) which are attractive against the green stems. Plant in full sun to light shade and irrigate little to abundantly. We have never seen damage on this plant and it is likely hardy to below 15° F. In our garden we have trained this plant up on a 10 foot tall metal pipe which it has grown above and reach 4 feet wide – to keep it in bounds we power shear it back a bit every two years or so and it rebounds rapidly. In the Mildred Mathias Botanic Garden, on the campus of the University of California Los Angeles, this plant is grown without support and they note it to have a haystack-like form to 12 feet tall and wide. In Annie's Annuals catalog it is described as looking like "Cousin It" and it is noted that it will grow to 3 to 5 feet tall by 5 feet wide. It seems to have taken this form along the slopes of Putah Creek in the UC Davis Arboretum where a group has been planted as a large scale shrubby groundcover. However it is grown, this plant is sure to attract attention as it does when visitors see our large towering plant. Our thanks to Dylan Hannon, now the curator of the Huntington Garden Conservatory, who gave us this strange yet interestingly attractive plant in 1997. Dylan got his original cutting of this plant from the Mildred Mathias Botanic Garden.
This description is based on our research and observations made of this plant as it grows in our nursery, in the nursery garden and in other gardens that we have visited. We also try to incorporate comments received from others and appreciate getting feedback of any kind from those who have additional information about this plant, particularly if they disagree with what we have written or if they have additional cultural tips that would aid others in growing Ephedra tweediana.
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