Common Name: Redberry Juniper

General Information

Juniperus coahuilensis is an evergreen shrub or a tree with a flattened-globose to irregular to round crown; it can grow up to 8 metres tall. The plant often produces a single-stem up to 1 metre long, though it can be branched from the base[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials. It has potential for use as a pioneer species for re-establishing native woodland.
Although this species has not been collected extensively (and many records are misidentified), it is clear that it has a very large extent of occurrence and is not declining. In western Texas there is evidence of increase, probably related to changes in land management and use. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Southern N. America - southwestern Texas to northeastern Mexico

Habitat

Bouteloua grasslands and adjacent rocky slopes; at elevations from 980 - 2,200 metres[]. Most often found on dry, well-drained soils in full sun[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	4.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Juniperus coahuilensis is a plant of the high desert[].
Requires a sunny position, growing mainly on dry, well-drained soils in the wild, often rocky or poor[].
Roseberry juniper is unusual in that it sprouts from the stump after burning or cutting[]. This feature has probably allowed it to remain in the grasslands in spite of periodic grass fires that kill all other juniper species[].

Edible Uses

The fleshy cones have been ground for flour[]. The globose to ovoid seed cones are rose to pinkish in colour, but yellow-orange, orange, or dark red beneath the glaucous coating; fleshy and somewhat sweet, they are 6 - 7mm in diameter, containing 1 - 2 seeds and maturing in one year[]

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

Junipers are natural pioneer species, often invading grasslands and then gradually being replaced by pinyons as the woodland develops[].

Other Uses

The fibrous bark was used by Native Americans to make mats, saddles, and other items[].

The seeds have been used for beads[].

The wood is used locally for posts[].
The wood is used for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed -