Ephedra minima

Ephedra minima (synonym Ephedra monosperma) is botanically close to conifers, but visually similar to horsetails. It is a sub-shrub that spreads slowly through stolons to form tufts which persist in winter. It produces round fruits that turn red when mature, highlighted against the green of its vegetation. This hardy Ephedra is adapted to difficult conditions: it thrives among limestone and dry rocky areas, in dappled sunlight or even shade.

Ephedra minima belongs to the Ephedraceae family. It is a botanical species native to China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, and Russia. In nature, it is found on cliffs, rocky slopes, and dry places, on limestone substrates, under sparse vegetation composed of junipers and bushes or in dry pine forests. This slow-growing plant develops stolons that allow it to colonize the soil between stones. It forms a 15 cm (6in) high cushion of vegetation consisting of cylindrical stems, as thin as wire, 1 mm (1in) in diameter, dark green, and ending in a kind of small elongated black ball, measuring 3 mm (1in) by 2 mm (1in). Ephedra does not flower, but it produces scaly pollen cones, and cones containing a single ovule in May. Pollination is ensured by the wind then the fleshy red "fruits" ripen in August, 6 to 9 mm (1in) long and 5 to 8 mm (1in) in diameter.

Ephedra monosperma is a plant that is more interesting than beautiful, useful for shaded rocky areas and dry, open understories. Plant it in a shady and mossy rock garden, with liverworts, the small fern Asplenium ceterach, or ivy-leaved toadflax, where it will be perfect. It can also be planted under a conifer hedge where few plants grow.