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| Utah Juniper All photos by Charlotte Coles |
The Utah Juniper, Juniperus osteosperma, is one of nature's caretakers. Utah Juniper is a multi-trunked tree or shrub. Roots are vast and shallow growing in gravelly loam or clay alkaline soil (pH 7.4-8.0). The Utah Juniper grows 0.5 inch per year and may live up to 600 years. They are best suited for elevations of 3000-8000 feet. This monoecious tree or shrub is able to reproduce in distant areas by wind or animals. Each berry contains 1-2 seeds and the staminate are small soft cones.
The heartwood is durable cedar used for fence posts. There are medicinal properties in the foliage. When pummeled, it is used as an analgesic. The trunk is shredded by wind and insects making the tree appear unfit to thrive. This additional surface space collects more moisture from the air. The dead trunk shows how the twigs grow in a winding spiral around the heartwood.
The Utah Juniper has benefited nature and humankind with its beauty and unique characteristics. In the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park lies a forest of Utah Junipers and Pinyon Pine. The Utah Juniper provides shade and protection for struggling new Pinyon Pines. The Utah Juniper shrubs also offer protection for animals during storms. The berries serve wintering birds and wildlife during long winters. Dead trees provide a perch for raptors eyeing dinner. Their elaborate root systems help eliminate soil erosion - perfect fit for xeriscape lovers!
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| Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park with a forest of Utah Junipers and Pinon Pines |
https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/water-wise-xeriscape/1907-xeriscape-plant-choices/
https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/garden/07229.pdf