Sea Grape (Ephedra distachya)

Family: Ephedraceae | Edibility: Edible (2/5)

Ephedra distachya is an evergreen Shrub growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 1 m (3ft 3in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 6. It is in leaf all year, in flower in July. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). . The plant is not self-fertile.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Fruit, Berries

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer

Flavor & Culinary Uses

sweet but rather insipid flavour. — A sweet but rather insipid flavour.; The fruit is about 6mm in diameter.

Habitat & North American Range

Semi-desert and desert regions and on gritty slopes on the Russian steppes. Grasslands, sandy places and rocky mountain slopes below 900 metres in China. (Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9)