Regel’s jointfir
Ephedra regeliana
Regel’s jointfir (Ephedra regeliana) is a perennial suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 6 to 12 in tall and 6 to 12 in wide, needs low water, and prefers full sun. Low, woody, mat-forming jointfir with green jointed stems that stay green all year. Small yellow cones in spring, and very little water once established.
On the CSFS firewise listlow water6 to 12 in tall and 6 to 12 in wideXeric / water-wiseLow ignitability: OK 0-30 ft from the house, CSU score 8/10
Photos
- Photo 1: James roberts, Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY)
- Photo 2: (c) Вячеслав Юсупов, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 3: (c) Вячеслав Юсупов, some rights reserved (CC BY)
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5 to 9
- Water needs
- low water
- Sun
- Best in full sun.
- Soil
- clay, loam, sandy
- Soil pH
- 6.5 to 8.0
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Site uses
- Slopes & erosion control
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 6 to 12 in tall and 6 to 12 in wide
- Planting spacing
- ~8 to 12 in apart
What it looks like, and when
- Bloom time
- mid spring
- Bloom color
- yellow
- Bloom length
- Long (several weeks)
- Foliage
- Evergreen
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- high
- Deer
- Not rated
- Colorado native
- No
Also worth knowing
- Fire rating
- Low ignitability: OK 0-30 ft from the house, CSU score 8/10
Planting & establishment
Deep-water first season to establish, then minimal water needed.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Regel’s jointfir good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Regel’s jointfir is a well-suited perennial for Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Regel’s jointfir get?
- It matures to about 6 to 12 in tall and 6 to 12 in wide.
- How far apart do I plant Regel’s jointfir?
- Space Regel’s jointfir about 8 in apart for a faster, fuller bed, or up to 12 in apart for a looser planting.
- Is Regel’s jointfir hardy on the Front Range?
- Regel’s jointfir is hardy in USDA 5 to 9. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b to 6a, so it is at its cold edge here. Site it in a warm microclimate and protect young plants.
- How much water does Regel’s jointfir need?
- It needs low water once established.
- Is Regel’s jointfir native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is Regel’s jointfir a good firewise plant near the house?
- Regel’s jointfir is rated 8 of 10 in CSU Extension Fact Sheet 6.305 (2025), where higher means less ignitable, so it can go within 0 to 5 feet of the house as well as out to 30 feet when kept watered and tidy. This is general guidance based on CSU Extension Fact Sheet 6.305 (2025), not a guarantee that any plant won't burn, a well-irrigated, well-maintained plant is the goal. Follow CSU Extension defensible-space guidance and check with your local fire district before planting in the wildland-urban interface.
- How long does Regel’s jointfir bloom?
- Regel’s jointfir blooms for several weeks, a long-season performer on the Front Range. Bloom timing shifts a week or two with elevation and spring weather.
