Common Name:

General Information

Juniperus monticola is a variable, evergreen shrub or a tree with a flattened to broadly conic crown; it can grow up to 10 metres tall[]. One form of the plant is a prostrate shrub no more than 100cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of wood. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental.
With a huge extent of occurrence, but a limited area of occupancy, this species is not threatened. The alpine decumbent forms could be affected by climate change but there is no evidence that this is happening. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

C. America - Guatemala to northeastern Mexico

Habitat

Pinyon-Juniper woodland, becoming a decumbent shrub at or above the tree line on ridges of basalt or consolidated scree, or on rocks and cliffs to the limit of vegetation on Mexico's highest volcanoes; at elevations from 2,000 - 4,270 metres[]

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	0.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Juniperus monticola is a moderately cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate temperatures down to around -15°c when fully dormant[]. Despite high precipitation on the mountains where this plant grows, the environment is decidedly xeric due to the porosity of volcanic substrates, but snowmelt may provide a relatively reliable, slow-release moisture source in spring and early summer[].
Requires a sunny position. Succeeds in most soils if they are well drained, preferring a neutral or slightly alkaline soil[] and succeeding on chalk[]. A drought tolerant plant once established, succeeding in hot dry positions[].
This species is not in cultivation, but the decumbent alpine form would probably be suitable for rock gardens and withstand low winter temperatures[].
This species is not very hardy in Britain[].
A dioecious species - both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[]. A sweet resinous flesh[]. A soft, fleshy pulp[]. The blue-black, globose seed cones are 5 - 10mm in diameter, containing 2 - 9 seeds[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

Wood - brown, hard. Used for construction etc[].

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[].