Description
Ephedra gerardiana, known as Ma Huang, is endemic to the mountains of Afghanistan, Bhutan, northern India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sikkim, Tajikistan, and Tibet. It is a perennial small shrub composed primarily of fibrous stalks, generally about 0.6m in height to a 2m span with small, yellow flowers followed by round, red, edible fruits.
Ma Huang is sometimes used as a stimulant, and in Ayurvedic medicine its tea is used as medicine for colds, coughs, bronchitis, asthma, and arthritis.
Traditional medicinal uses of Ephedra gerardiana, or Ma Huang, also include chills, fever, headaches, nasal congestion, and to treat allergies. It has been a natural source of alkaloids such as ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and other related compounds.
- Specifications.
50mm Pot Size
Seed Grown Plant
Ideal Growing Conditions.
Ephedra gerardiana is an arid species so only water as needed. Best to water well, then allow to dry out completely before watering well again. It does not like having its roots kept wet so ensuring your soil and/or pot allows for good drainage. Introduce to increasing sun light gradually as too much summer sun too early can be damaging.
However, once adapted this species prefers full sun. It is drought tolerant.
Seeding requires a male and female plant.
Pests and Diseases: Monitor your plant for pests like aphids, scale or spider mites. Ephedra is very susceptible to scale, watch for small shelled looking insects. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap, Eco Oil or Neem Oil
Soil: You need a high quality potting mix, not a pre-bagged product such as you find at Bunnings etc, try a landscaping place. However, as I am not local to you I still can’t say if they have good quality or not. You are looking for well composted pine bark and large particles. This ensures air flow to the roots and good drainage.
We recommend Yates Nutricote Standard Black 270 Day for a fertiliser, which can be found in our store, however any good quality slow release fertiliser will do. When time to re-pot, select a pot one size up ONLY and ensure it has many holes for good drainage.
Fertiliser:Â
Yates Nutricote Standard Black 270 Day Controlled Release Fertiliser
The Plant Runner Indoor Plant Food
- We cannot send plants to Western Australia & Tasmania due to restrictions.
- We cannot ship this species Internationally.
- We strongly recommended to select Express Post shipping for all plant orders to minimise the transit time.
What to see more stimulant plants? Check these out
Catha edulis f. green (Khat) Plant
Keith Smith (verified owner) –
I cannot fault the the whole process of finding ordering and receiving my Ephedra plants from you, and the wealth of information about how to care for the plants.
Sometimes there are disappointments when ordering products on line, but definitely not this time Thank you again
plantaevoluptas (verified owner) –
Plants are acclimatisng well to their new homes bless Linda and the team at Shaman Australis. Can’t remember them enough!