Common Name: Ashe Juniper

General Information

Juniperus ashei is an evergreen tree with a rounded to irregular and open crown; it usually grows up to 9 metres tall, but can reach 15 metres. The single stem is usually unbranched for 1 - 3 metres, but is sometimes branched from the base. The bole can be 50cm in diameter[, , ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for its essential oil, which is used commercially, and also for local use as a source of materials. It can be used as a pioneer species for restoring native woodland and is also grown as an ornamental in gardens.
Juniperus ashei is widespread and abundant, especially in Central Texas, where it is actually increasing its range into abandoned fields. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

Possibly toxic to mammals[].

Botanical References

,

Range

Southern N. America - southern Missouri, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, south to northern Mexico.

Habitat

Open grassland and shrubland, in sandy or rocky soil on plains, on bluffs and ridges, on hillsides or along stream beds in sandy or rocky soil, commonly over limestone; at elevations from 150 - 1,550 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	6.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Juniperus ashei is a moderately cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate temperatures down to around -15°c when dormant[]. It is found in a continental climate, with warm summers and cold winters, drier with hotter summers in the south of its range[].
Succeeds in most soils if they are well drained, preferring a neutral or slightly alkaline soil[, , ]. Established plants are drought tolerant, succeeding in hot dry positions[]. They require a sheltered position in full sun[].
A slow-growing plant, though it may live for 200 - 350 years in good conditions[]. Fruit production is cyclic, a year of heavy crops being followed by 1 - 2 years of light crops[].
The seed ripens in its first year[].
A dioecious species - both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

The dark blue, globose to broadly ovoid seed cones are succulent and resinous. Maturing in one year, they are 6 - 10mm in diameter and contain 1 - 3 seeds[]. There are no specific reports on edibility[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is a natural pioneer species - it is considered to be an 'invader' of grasslands in Texas[]. This makes it a useful species within its native range for restoring woodland and also gives it potential for use in creating a woodland garden[].

Other Uses

The wood is mainly used to produce 'cedarwood oil' through steam distillation[]. A pleasant fragrance, it is used in soaps, candles and cosmetics[].

The bark was used traditionally to make mats, saddles and other items[].

The wood is close-grained, hard, durable, slightly fragrant, light and easily worked[, , ]. Not strong[]. The wood is not large enough nor common enough for commercial production, though it is used locally for fencing posts, telegraph poles, railroad ties, small woodenware etcl[, , ].
The wood is used for fuel[, ].

Propagation

The seed requires a period of cold stratification. The seed has a hard seedcoat and can be very slow to germinate, requiring a cold period followed by a warm period and then another cold spell, each of 2 - 3 months duration[, ]. Soaking the seed for 3 - 6 seconds in boiling water may speed up the germination process[]. The seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Some might germinate in the following spring, though most will take another year. Another possibility is to harvest the seed 'green' (when the embryo has fully formed but before the seedcoat has hardened). The seedlings can be potted up into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Grow on in pots until large enough, then plant out in early summer. When stored dry, the seed can remain viable for several years[].
Cuttings of mature wood, 5 - 10cm with a heel, September/early autumn in a cold frame. Plant out in the following autumn[, ].
Layering in September/early autumn. Takes 12 months[].