Juniperus osteosperma aka Utah Juniper

Juniperus osteosperma, or Utah juniper, is an evergreen conifer. It belongs to the cypress family, Cupressaceae. Its native range spans the dry western United States. It grows from California east to Colorado and New Mexico. Its range also reaches parts of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. It is widespread in the Great Basin. Wild trees grow on rocky slopes and high desert plains.

It forms a large shrub or a short-trunked tree. Garden size is about 15–30 feet [4.5–9 metres] tall. One source reports heights of 39 feet [12 metres]. Low branches help form a full, rounded crown. Growth is slow, but trees can live for centuries. The thin gray bark has uneven grooves and scaly ridges. Young twigs look angular, then turn reddish brown with age. Small yellow-green leaves press close against the twigs. Some strong shoots also bear pointed, awl-like leaves.

Male cones are small and pale yellow at twig tips. Female cones start as small, pale green spheres. Sources disagree on whether trees usually carry both sexes. Wind carries the pollen between cones. The seed cones look like berries but are not true fruit. They start blue beneath a pale, waxy coat. They become brown and dry as they mature. Each holds one or two seeds with hard coats. Ripening takes one to two years, depending on the source. Plants For A Future places seed ripening in October.

Give this juniper sun and soil that drains well. Oregon State also reports that it accepts light shade. It can grow in sandy, loamy, or clay soils. Neutral to slightly alkaline soil suits it best. Established plants withstand drought and hot, dry sites. Cool, wet conditions can limit growth, as in western Britain. Sources place its cold tolerance at USDA zone 3 or 4. Plants For A Future lists zones 4–8. It also reports resistance to honey fungus.

The evergreen crown offers year-round form in a dry garden. Plants For A Future notes its value for attracting wildlife. The cones are edible fresh, cooked, or dried and ground. Their flesh is sweet, mealy, and strongly resin-flavored. People have used them to flavor stews and make cakes. Fruit wax has served in candles, and bark as tinder. Indigenous peoples used leaves and twigs in traditional remedies. These uses do not establish medical safety or effectiveness. Plants For A Future lists no known hazards.