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Cabeza Prieta Natural History Association
Sonoran Desert Plants
Juniperus arizonica (Arizona Juniper,Red Berry Juniper)

Coffee Pot Mountain

 

 Juniperus arizonica

 Juniperus arizonica

 Juniperus arizonica

 Juniperus arizonica

 Juniperus arizonica

Habitat: mountains
Life Form: tree
Leaf Description: scalelike
Flower Color: red
Spines: spineless
Family: Cupressaceae (cypress family)
Abundance: locally common

Redberry juniper is a native, evergreen, small tree or large shrub. Mature height usually ranges from 12 to 15 feet (3.6-4.5 m), with spreading and ascending branches forming an open, irregular crown. The ovulate cones contain one seed. The bark is shreddy, but is formed close to the trunk. Redberry juniper tends to have a central erect stem with lower branches originating near the ground level.

The fleshy, berry-like cones of redberry juniper are eaten by at least four species of songbirds, Gambel's quail, coyotes, foxes, raccoons, rock squirrels, Hopi chipmunks, and probably other birds and mammals. Additional Information:
Felger, R.S., S. Rutman, J. Malusa, and T.R. Van Devender. 2013. Ajo Peak to Tinajas Altas: Flora of Southwestern Arizona: Part 3. Ferns, lycopods, and gymnosperms. Phytoneuron 2013-37, 1-46 page 36 (4.0 MB pdf)

Photo Credits:
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Our member horticultural expert is Hank Jorgensen. For more information on this plant species, see Hank's page (opens in a new tab).

 

 

 

 

 

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