Woody > Juniperus > Juniperus osteosperma > Juniperus osteosperma
Juniperus osteosperma
Origin: The most common juniper in Oregon, Juniperus osteosperma is an evergreen shrub that can be found ranging from Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. It can be found in evergreen forests or woodlands, and in dry rocky plains.
Mike's
Opinion
"
Juniperus osteosperma is a beautiful Juniper, with flaky exfoliating bark. It has a subtle yellow tinge to the scaled green foliage and can grow into some very interesting tilted and twisted forms. In tree form it can grow very large. It also sports the traditional white/blue berries as most Junipers do.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Cupressaceae |
| Genus |
| Juniperus |
| Species |
| osteosperma |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Tree (evergreen) |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 5 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 5a - 5b |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H7 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| (-28) - (-23) |
| Temperature (°F) |
| (-18) - (-9) |
| Height |
| 9 m |
| Spread |
| 7 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
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Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| The Utah Juniper is a large evergreen shrub that can also be used as a tree. It features yellowish green foliage and whitish blue juniper berries. It can be noted for its exfoliating bark and sometimes twisting forms. |
| Landscape |
| This plant is best for mass planting, however if shaped properly could be used a specimen plant depending on the person. It could also be used as a loose hedge. The wood is popular for use with construction due to its long lasting nature. It’s also used as firewood. Some people even use them as Christmas trees. |
| Cultivation |
| This plant prefers high alkaline soils but will thrive in most soils you stick it in. Once the plant is established it can go very long without water. Being drought tolerant, it does well in dry areas. Utah Juniper is usually dioecious, and the seeds take about 2 full years to mature. The roots for this plant are shallow. |
| Shape |
| The Utah Juniper can grow large and although the shape can vary, it has a rounded crown. It is known to reach up to 15-20 feet in height, with the stems sometimes twisting. |
| Growth |
| Medium |
| ID Characteristic |
| Twisting exfoliating bark, blue berries, scaled foliage, tilted appearance. |
| Pests |
| No known pests, relatively resistant due to its hardy nature. |
| Habitat |
| Juniperus osteosperma can be found mostly in woodlands and forests in southern states such as Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and in rocky plains in Arizona, Nevada, and Wyoming. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Soft brown exfoliating bark with stems tilting and twisting, almost as if it appears top heavy. |
| Leaf Description |
| Small oppositely arranged scaled leaves, with a gritty, coarse appearance. Awl shaped leaves can be found on younger foliage. About 0.5 cm long. |
| Flower Description |
| Small berry shaped cones that take 2 years to mature. These cones are reddish brown with a white bloom when fully matured. About 0.5 cm long. |
| Fruit Description |
| Long pointed seed coming off cones, can be noted for its dark spot that covers half of the seed. Roughly 1 cm long. |
| Colour Description |
| Green foliage with a slight yellow tinge. Brown and light brown bark. Berries covered in white bloom. |
| Texture Description |
| Coarse leaves and finely textured blooms. Bark is soft and exfoliating. |
| Propagation |
| Due to a hard coated seed, it takes a while to germinate. The seed needs to be cooled then heated, repeating this process several times, each time for roughly 2-3 months. The seed should be sown when cold. The seed normally takes two seasons to germinate. Seedlings should be put into individual pots. Once large enough they are ready to be planted in early summer. The seeds can remain usable for years if kept dry. Seeds should be collected during the ripe months of the year. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses (Disclaimer) |
| The plant used to be used for bow staves by the Great Basin Native Americans. The cones were also consumed. There are also many medical reasons they used the plant. Tooth aches, stomach aches, coughs, colds, swellings, headaches and more all had treatments involving Utah Juniper. For example, the twigs were burned and the fumes were inhaled to treat headaches. The plant is also a diuretic. It has little to no uses today ethnobotanically speaking. |
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