Common Name: Redberry Juniper

General Information

Juniperus pinchotii is an evergreen shrub or shrubby tree with a flattened-globose to irregular crown; it can grow from 1 - 8 metres tall, most commonly around 6 metres. It is usually multi-stemmed, forming a dense clump with stems up to 20cm in diameter[, ].
There are no reports of this species being edible, but it is very likely that the seed cones were eaten by native peoples. The plant is also harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials; has potential as a pioneer for restoring native woodland; and is sometimes grown as an ornamental.
This species has a large range and is abundant; it is apparently also spreading into grassland areas. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

The plant contains toxic monoterpenes. - juvenile plants are lower in total monoterpenes than mature plants. These monoterpenes act as a defense mechanism against browsing, thereby promoting survival and reproduction of the plant[].

Botanical References

Range

Southern N. America - New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, northern and central Mexico

Habitat

Gravelly or sandy soils on rolling hills, in ravines along sandy washes and on river terraces, over limestone and gypsum; at elevations from 300 - 1,000 metres, occasionally to 1,700 metres[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	5.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Juniperus pinchotii is a moderately cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate temperatures down to around -15°c when fully dormant[]. The climate is warm to cool temperate, with long dry spells and mostly summer rain coming as scattered storms[]
Requires an open, sunny position in a well-drained soil[, ]. The plant grows in the wild on shallow, rocky soils (often alkaline) that cannot support much vegetation[]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[].
The plant is occasionally grown as an ornamental[]
This species usually grows in dry, rocky areas with low levels of vegetation and so any fires occur at wide intervals and usually not create a lot of heat. Although these low-intensity fires may top-kill the plant, it will often resprout afterwards from basal buds. In more fertile regions, where fires can be more intense and more frequent, the juniper is usually unable to establish in any quantity. With the advent of human activity (ranching) preventing fires in these more fertile areas, the juniper has been able to spread into these sites and is often seen as an aggressive invader of these grasslands[].
This species hybridizes with Juniperus coahuilensis, but not with Juniperus ashei or Juniperus monosperma[].
A dioecious species, though a small percentage of plants are monoecious[]; generally both male and female forms need to be grown if fruit and seed are required

Edible Uses

The seed cones are fleshy and sweet, not resinous[]. No mention of edibility is made, though the cones of several other species (including the closely related Juniperus monosperma) were traditionally used for food[]. The copper to copper-red coloured, globose to ovoid seed cones are 6 - 10mm in diameter, containing 1 - 2 seeds and maturing in their first year[].

Medicinal

The leaves have been dried over hot coals and their fumes inhaled as a treatment for headaches, vertigo, and other ailments[].

An extract of the dried and pulverized roots has been used to alleviate menstrual problems[].

Agroforestry Uses:

This is considered to be an aggressive species since it is actively spreading into grassland in Texas[]. This makes it an ideal species within its native range to act as a pioneer when restoring native woodland, and possibly also when establishing a woodland garden[].
The plant has been shown to stabilize soils on steep and rocky range sites[].

Other Uses

Unlike most species in the Cupressaceae, the wood of this species is not rot-resistant[]. It was used traditionally for making bows and arrow shafts, and is used locally for fence posts and 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[].