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Gardening
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Great Design Plant: Bluestem Joint Fir
For a splash of cool blue color that lasts all year, try this evergreen in a sunny and dry garden spot
Houzz Contributor. I am a landscape/garden designer, garden coach, writer, and public speaker with over 25 years of professional experience creating beautiful outdoor environments that are lifestyle friendly and Colorado "green". Please contact me at jhcstudios@yahoo.com if you would like more information about my services.
Houzz Contributor. I am a landscape/garden designer, garden coach, writer,... More »
Do you love the fine texture of ornamental grasses but hate the bare space you’re stuck with when they’ve been cut back in the spring? Do you have a dry, sunny spot that could use a hit of cool blue color? Are you looking for a small-scale evergreen that’s different? Look no farther — it's bluestem joint fir to the rescue!
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| Botanical name: Ephedra equisetina Common name: Bluestem joint fir USDA zones: 4b to 9 (find your zone) Elevation range: Up to 7,000 feet Water requirement: Moderate to very dry once established Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade Mature size: 4 to 6 feet tall and 3 to 8 feet wide Benefits and tolerances: Evergreen, chalk-blue color; fine texture; tolerant of full sun, drought and alkaline soils When to plant: April through July Seasonal interest: Colorful year-round; female plants have red, berry-like fruit in midsummer. |
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Distinguishing traits. Leafless blue-gray stems create a dense, erect form that holds its color through four seasons.
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How to use it. Although bluestem joint fir has a fine texture, it is quite dense and makes a great screen or backdrop when planted en masse. Its unique character also makes it a terrific accent plant; use it as a focal point with low shrubs or perennial flowers.
Companion plants in a moderately dry garden might include ‘Autumn Joy’ sedum (Sedum spectabile ‘Autumn Joy’), sea lavender (Limonium latifolium), common hollyhock (Alcea rosea) and tickseed (Coreopsis spp).
Companion plants in a moderately dry garden might include ‘Autumn Joy’ sedum (Sedum spectabile ‘Autumn Joy’), sea lavender (Limonium latifolium), common hollyhock (Alcea rosea) and tickseed (Coreopsis spp).
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Planting notes. Native growing conditions of bluestem joint fir are the dry and rocky regions of central Asia, Inner Mongolia and northern China. Bluestem joint fir adapts well to garden loam, clay or sandy soils but will not tolerate those that are wet or poorly draining.
Comments
perezfam Warning. This stuff will take over your garden and once in, you can't eradicate it. I would not even plant this in a container.
8 months ago · Like
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Ideabook published on Sept. 22, 2012.
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