Juniperus coahuilensis, Redberry Juniper, Southwest Desert Flora

Juniperus coahuilensis, Redberry Juniper

Redberry Juniper is a gymnosperm that is so named because of one of the common colors of the globose seed cones. Pollen seed cones develop from October to November. Juniperus coahuilensis

Redberry Juniper has light green glandular awl-like leaves that are closely appressed, scale-like and covered with conspicuous white resin. This species is found in the southwestern United States in AZ, NM and TX. It is predominant in Arizona. Juniperus coahuilensis

Redberry Juniper is a large shrub or small tree that grows up to 10 or 15 feet tall with a flattened or irregular crown. It prefers elevations from 2,100 to 5,500 feet and is found in canyons, dry rolling hills and rocky slopes in semi desert type areas. Juniperus coahuilensis

Group: Gymnosperm
Scientific Name: Juniperus coahuilensis
Common Name: Redberry Juniper
Also Called:
Family: Cupressaceae, Cypress Family
Synonyms: (Juniperus erythrocarpa, Juniperus erythrocarpa var. coahuilensis, Juniperus occidentalis var. conjungens, Juniperus occidentalis var. texana, Juniperus pinchotii var. erythrocarpa)
Status: Native
Duration: Perennial
Size: 10 to 15 feet or more (26 feet).
Growth Form: Shrub, Tree; tends to have a central erect stem with lower branches originating near the ground level, branches spreading to ascending; bark ashy gray to brown, ex-foliating in long ragged strips; crown flattened or irregular.
Leaves: Green to light green; usually decussate, closely appressed, scale-like, glands on awl-like leaves often (+ 25%) covered with conspicuous white resin.
Flower Color: Non-flowering species; cones only; gymnosperm; dioecious; pollen and seed cones terminal; seed cones mature in 1 year, globose or globular to ovoid; rose to pinkish but yellow-orange, orange, or dark red beneath glaucous coating, fleshy and somewhat sweet.
Flowering Season: October to November.
Elevation: 2,100 to 5,500 feet.

Habitat Preferences: Canyons and dry rolling hills and rocky slopes, semi desert (Bouteloua) grasslands, oak-juniper woodlands.

Recorded Range: Redberry Juniper is found in the southwest United States in AZ, NM, TX. It is predominately found in appropriate habitat throughout northwest, central and southeast Arizona. It is also native to northern and central Mexico.

North America & US County Distribution Map for Juniperus coahuilensis.

U.S. Weed Information: No information available.
Invasive/Noxious Weed Information: No information available.
Wetland Indicator: No information available.
Threatened/Endangered Information: No information available.

Genus Information: In North America there are 30 species and 43 accepted taxa overall for Juniperus. Worldwide, The Plant List includes 75 accepted species names and a further 394 scientific names of infraspecific rank for the genus.

In the Southwestern United States: Arizona and New Mexico each have 8 species of Juniperus, California has 5 species, Nevada has 6 species, Texas has 8 species, Utah has 4 species. All data is approximate and subject to taxonomic changes.

Comments: Juniperus coahuilensis resembles One-seed Juniper (Juniperus monosperma) to which it is assigned in Arizona Flora. In Texas, Redberry Juniper intergrades with Pinchot Juniper (Juniperus pinchottii) where they overlap.

For a comprehensive thoroughly documented review of Juniperus coahuilensis see the USDA USFS Fire Effects Information System, or FEIS.

In Southwest Desert Flora also see: California Juniper, Juniperus californica, Alligator Juniper Juniperus deppeana, Oneseed Juniper, Juniperus monosperma, Utah Juniper, Juniperus osteosperma and Arizona Cypress, Cupressus arizonica.