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Tree and Shrub Gallery

Cypress family - Juniper

        

Cupressaceae - Cypress family
Ashe Juniper (Mountain Cedar) Juniperus ashei
Evergreen, bushy tree that does not re-grow after being cut. Old-growth stands usually have a central trunk and use less water. Quick growth in impoverished overgrazed lands are usually multi-trunked with shallow roots that use more water. Flowers fall-winter. Berries start off green then turn blue (often larger and darker than Juniperus virginiana). Red-brown bark exfoliates in long strips. White spots often blotch bark. Leaves on juvenile trees are needle-like then become tightly scaled as adults. Old trees make good fence posts that do not rot.
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Callahan, Coleman, Brown, Coke, Nolan)

Similar Species

Eastern Red Cedar Juniperus virginiana
This evergreen can be a bush or a tree that can reach 60 feet tall and live hundreds of years. Tree has a central trunk of hard red wood, which can be trimmed to produce a tree form. Female trees have cones that have a thick skin making them look like purple-blue berries with a white waxy coating (bloom), matures in 6-8 months. Male trees are covered with yellow pollen cones, 1/8" long, in late winter or early spring. Bark is soft silver gray. Leaves on juvenile trees are needle-like then become tightly scaled as adults.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, May-June 2004
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Runnels)

This photo shows the leaf structure of a baby juniper (don't know which kind). Note the leaf growth at the top is of a mature nature.	This photo shows the differences in size between the two common Junipers in Taylor County, Texas. Both the berry and the leaves are larger on the Ashe Juniper (blue berry) then the ones on the Red-berry Juniper.

     

Cupressaceae - Cypress family
Red-Berry Juniper (Cedar, Juniper) Juniperus pinchotii
Evergreen, bushy tree rarely reaches 25 feet tall. It has spreading multi-trunks from base that can be cut then re-grow from roots. Female trees have cones that have a thick skin making them look like red/orange berries with a pink waxy coating (bloom), 12 months to mature. Male trees are covered with orange pollen cones, 3/16" long, in the fall. Dark gray bark exfoliates in long strips. Leaves on juvenile trees are needle-like then become tightly scaled as adults.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, September 2004, October-November 2005
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Coleman, Runnels, Coke, Nolan, Fisher)