Juniper (5)
Junipers, the genus Juniperus, are evergreen trees or shrubs. They have scale-like leaves. Seeds are produced in cones which are blue and berry-like.
Common Juniper
Juniperus communis
Family:
Cypress (Cupressaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on:
September 04, 2005
Location:
Almont, CO
Life Zones:
Foothills to alpine
Habitat:
Dry forests, open slopes
A low, spreading shrub less than 3ft high in Colorado, but can grow to be a 30ft tree elsewhere.
Flora of North America reference.
Rocky Mountain Juniper
Juniperus scopulorum (Sabina scopulorum)
Family:
Cypress (Cupressaceae)
AKA:
Red Cedar, Colorado Juniper
Photo taken on:
March 16, 2009
Location:
Pajarito Plateau, NM
Life Zones:
Plains to montane
Habitat:
Dry soil, canyons, cliffs, Ponderosa
A tree growing 20-60ft with a single trunk, slender drooping branches and scaly bark. Leaves are green but can be silvery.
Flora of North America reference.
Utah Juniper
Juniperus osteosperma (Sabina osteosperma)
Family:
Cypress (Cupressaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on:
October 28, 2005
Location:
Hartman's Rocks, GV, CO
Life Zones:
Plains to montane
Habitat:
Dry soil, rocky slopes
A small shrub-like tree, less than 20ft with a rounded crown and bark that shreds in thin strips. It has a more irregular shape than the Rocky Mountain Juniper. The leaves are yellowish green. The cones have one or two seeds.
Flora of North America reference.
One-seed Juniper
Juniperus monosperma (Sabina monosperma)
Family:
Cypress (Cupressaceae)
AKA:
New Mexico Cedar, Cherrystone Juniper, Sabina
Photo taken on:
August 18, 2008
Location:
Pajarito Plateau, NM
Life Zones:
Plains to foothills
Habitat:
Dry soil, rocky slopes
Grows to 25ft often with multiple trunks and dead branches. Bark is gray and shredded. Leaves are yellow-green.
Male trees have yellow cones that turn brown after producing pollen.
Female trees produce a blue, berry-like cone with a single seed.
Flora of North America reference.
Alligator Juniper
Juniperus deppeana
Family:
Cypress (Cupressaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on:
October 7, 2016
Location:
Piedra Lumbre Land Grant, Abiquiu, NM
Life Zones:
Foothills and montane
Habitat:
Dry rocky slopes
Grows to 45 feet tall. It is distinguished by its thick bark that peels away in rectangles giving the appearance of alligator skin. The leaves have whitish spots that give the tree a silvery appearance. The whitish-blue seed cones contain 3-5 seeds.
Flora of North America reference.
