Commonly known as the joint pine, this evergreen shrub, native to the western Mediterranean and North Africa, resembles a conifer crossed with a broom. A strange plant known for its traditional medicinal properties, it shares characteristics with both the 'flowering plants' and the ancient cone-bearing conifers. The species is dioecious, with yellow flowers followed by small red berry-like cones. It grows on rocky outcrops and stone walls where it can reach 1.8m high, often on cliffs (although this is often not by choice but by circumstance - the plant survives where it can't be eaten, burnt or otherwise destroyed by human activity). It is a plant with many medicinal and pharmaceutical uses, and Ephedra pollen has been found in an ancient Iraqi burial site dating back 60,000 years.

The yellow flowers are borne on the stems of the plant, and although they are individually quite delicate, they make up for it by appearing en masse. These are followed by green berry-like cones which gradually turn a delicious pinkish red, an interesting contrast to the dull green of the main plant.

It does not tolerate shade, waterlogged or heavy soils, so free draining, mineral soils, slightly acidic or alkaline are not a problem - or a suitable crack in a rock will do. It will also grow on sea cliffs, so needs to be salt-tolerant and will tolerate frost down to -7C.