western juniper Cupressaceae Juniperus occidentalis Hook. symbol: JUOC Leaf: Persistent, scale-like and awl-like (in combination), and mostly ternate (arranged in whorls of 3), although some are decussate (in pairs); appressed tightly to the twig, tips of awl-like needles are free of the twig. Back side of needles are glandular and resin dotted, very aromatic. Flower: Species is mostly dioecious; rarely monoecious; male cones small, yellow, and terminal; female cones small, ovate, and at ends of branches. Fruit: Cones are small (about 1/4 inch diameter) and round with smooth, leathery scales; green when young and bluish black when mature, but always covered with white bloom, require 2 growing seasons to mature. Twig: Round and reddish brown, smooth when young but becoming scaly with age. Bark: Mature bark is thin (less than 1 inch thick), reddish brown, but weathering to grayish brown with broad, shallow furrows and flattened ridges. Form: Small, dry-site evergreen tree growing 20 to 60 feet tall and 1 to 3 feet in diameter; trunk is typically short, thick, and many-branched. Looks like: California juniper - Utah juniper - common juniper - Rocky Mountain juniper Additional Range Information: Juniperus occidentalis is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. See states reporting western juniper. External Links: USDAFS Silvics of North America USDAFS Additional Silvics USDA Plants Database © Copyright 2015, Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, all rights reserved. Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson