| General Description | The Utah Juniper is a large evergreen shrub that can also be used as a tree. It features yellowish green foliage and whitish blue juniper berries. It can be noted for its very exfoliating bark and sometimes twisting forms. |
| ID Characteristic | Twisting exfoliating bark, blue berries, scaled foliage, tilted appearance. |
| Shape | The Utah Juniper can grow large and although the shape can vary, it has a rounded crown. It is known to reach up to 15-20 feet in height, with the stems sometimes twisting. |
| Landscape | This plant is best for mass planting, however if shaped properly could be used a specimen plant depending on the person. It could also be used as a loose hedge. The wood is popular for use with construction due to its long lasting nature. It’s also used as firewood. Some people even use them as christmas trees. |
| Propagation | Due to a very hard coated seed, it takes a while to germinate. The seed needs to be cooled, then heated and repeated several times. Each time for roughly 2-3 months. The seed should be sown when cold. The seed normally takes two seasons to germinate. Seedlings should be put into individual pots once large enough, then they are ready to be planted early summer. The seeds can remain usable for years if kept dry. Seeds should be collected during the ripe months of the year. |
| Cultivation | This plant prefers high alkaline soils but will thrive in most soils you stick it in. Once the plant is established it can go very long without water, being drought tolerant, it does well in dry areas. Utah Juniper is usually dioecious, and the seeds take about 2 full years to mature. The roots for this plant are shallow. |
| Pests | No known pests, relatively resistant due to its hardy nature. |
| Habitat | Juniperus osteosperma can be found mostly in woodlands and forests, In southern states such as Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and in rocky plains in Arizona, Nevada and wyoming. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Soft brown exfoliating bark with stems tilting and twisting, almost as if it appears top heavy. |
| Leaf Description | Small oppositely arranged scaled leaves, with a gritty, coarse appearance. Awl shaped leaves can be found on younger foliage. About 0.5 cm long. |
| Flower Description | Small berry shaped cones that take 2 years to mature. These cones are reddish brown with a white bloom when fully matured. About 0.5 cm long. |
| Fruit Description | Long pointed seed coming off cones, can be noted for its dark spot that covers half of the seed. Roughly 1 cm long. |
| Colour Description | Green foliage with a slight yellow tinge, brown and light brown bark. Berries covered in white bloom. |
| Texture Description | Coarse leaves and finely textured blooms. Bark is soft even though exfoliating. |