Common Name(s): Alligator Juniper

Synonym(s):

Family: Cupressaceae

Native To: Northern Mexico and southwestern United States

Native Habitat: Woodland and lower elevation pine forests

Growth Habit: While it is the largest of the junipers, this is only a medium sized evergreen tree

Flowering: Inconspicuous

Distinguishing Characteristics: While this is the largest southwestern juniper, ranging in heights from 20 to 50 feet, it is very slow growing. It has a dense, rounded or pyramidal crown with a spreading canopy. This evergreen tree sits on a single, massive trunk, but can be multi-trunked. The leaves are bluish green, pointed, and scale-like. They are about 1/8 to ½ an inch long and form on dense branches. The cones, or berries, are reddish brown beneath a waxy, gray coating. They are hard and approximately ½ inch in diameter. The “berries” generally have 3 to 5 seeds and do not mature until the second year.

Natural History and Cultivation Notes: This species of juniper is native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. It received its common name from the thick, checkered, furrowed bark, which is divided into scales that resemble the skin on the backs of alligators. This species is very slow growing, but lives typically from 500 to 800 years, with records of 1,100 and 1,400 years. Birds and mammals enjoy the berries of the juniper, which are available at times when other food is scarce.

Ethnobotany: The wood of this species is fragrant with attractive grain and color, making it well suited for the making of novelty items such as bookends and small chests. The wood is also used commonly as firewood because it is light, easy to split, has a high heat value, and gives off a pleasant aroma when burned. The wood is also occasionally made into particle board.

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