Western Juniper

Juniperus occidentalis (Cupressaceae) is a native juniper ranging from British Columbia through California and east to Idaho, Nevada, and western Montana, typically found in arid foothills and lower mountain slopes at elevations up to 3,000 meters. It grows 15 to 30 feet tall as a tree or large shrub, developing a short trunk with stout spreading branches that become gnarled with age. Light brown, scaly bark peels in strips. The scale-like leaves are usually arranged in whorls of three.

Western juniper is exceptionally drought resistant and thrives in thin, rocky, or sandy, well-drained soils in full sun, with a pH tolerance of 6.0 to 8.5. Blue-black berry-like fruit with a waxy bloom matures over two years. The species is difficult to transplant except when young and is seldom available in the nursery trade as named cultivars. It carries the same broad disease and pest susceptibility profile as other junipers, including Phomopsis twig blight. Hardy in Zones 4a to 8b.