Utah Juniper
Juniperus osteosperma, Cypress Family: ( Cupressaceae ), Utah Juniper. Also called: Shaggy Bark Juniper.
A small, shrubby tree or large bush up to 25 feet tall; typically its branches are low to the ground and it develops a rounded crown.
Arizona has 3,666 species of native and naturalized plants in 1,003 genera and 145 families (Lehr and Pinkava, 1980).
Height: Up to 25 feet tall with a 25 foot crown spread.
Buds: Buds monecious; males are small pale yellow in clusters at the ends of the twigs; the females are small, round, and light green.
Bud Time: Mid March - May.
Leaves: Evergreen, scale-like, in opposite pairs, no glands so leaves lack any resin; yellow-green.
Bark: Gray, exfoliating with irregular furrows and scaly ridges; stays thin.
Cones: Berry-like cones, round, 1/4 - 1/2 inch in diameter, bluish when young but turning reddish brown and dry when mature, usually 2 seeds per cone, (could have one), they mature over two growing seasons.
Seeds: One or two.
Found: Semi-desert, foothills. Woodlands. Dry and rocky soils. Associated Species are: Arizona Cypress, big sagebrush, Indian ricegrass.
Elevation: 3,500 to 7,500 Feet.
Habitat: The woodland mosaic formed by Utah Juniper occurs primarily on the high plains, plateaus, mesas, canyons, foothills, and lower mountain slopes of the Colorado Plateau.
Miscellaneous: Photos Taken Near Jacob's Lake Arizona, 3-6-2007.
