Juniperus pinchotii aka Copper Berry Juniper

Juniperus pinchotii is an evergreen shrub or small tree. It belongs to Cupressaceae, the cypress family. Its native range runs from Oklahoma into northern Mexico. Kew places it within the temperate climate zone. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. The Royal Horticultural Society accepts Juniperus pinchotii as its name. It also lists Juniperus erythrocarpa as a synonym. Both names refer here to the same species.

This juniper has a low-branched, shrubby form. Virginia Tech gives its height as up to 20 feet [6.1 metres]. Branches start near the ground and turn upward. Together, they form an open crown with a rounded outline. The bark ranges from gray to brown. Its furrows follow a very uneven pattern. Scaly ridges break up the surface and peel away. The twigs are fairly stout and have a somewhat angular shape. Young twigs carry a close covering of yellow-green leaves. As the twigs age, they turn reddish brown.

The leaves remain on the plant through the year. They look like small scales and have pointed tips. Most sit close against the twig in crowded groups. They often occur in groups of three. Leaf color ranges from yellow-green to gray-green. Small gland dots mark the leaf surface. These tightly packed leaves cover the young twig rather than spreading widely outward. The foliage and peeling bark provide different textures on the same plant.

Male and female cones grow on separate plants. The botanical term for this arrangement is dioecious. Virginia Tech records their appearance in early fall. The small male structures have a pale yellow color. They form large clusters at the ends of twigs. Female structures are small, round, and pale green. The later seed cones resemble berries, but they are cones. Each round cone measures about one-third inch across. Their color ranges from copper to copper-red. A glaucous bloom coats the surface. The cones become hard as they mature. Each holds one seed and ripens within one growing season. Seed dispersal takes place in fall. The supplied sources give no species-level guidance on garden care. They also provide no evidence for edibility or toxicity.