California Juniper
Juniperus californica
Miguel Vieira from Walnut Creek, CA, USA
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Coniferophyta | - Conifers
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Genus:
- Juniperus
- Species:
- Juniperus californica
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 20-40 ft
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- mar, apr, may
- Bloom Colors:
- White, Brown
- Evergreen Shrub:
- Yes
Native Range
United States: Arizona, California, Nevada
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★☆☆☆ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Abagrotis hennei, Abagrotis mirabilis, Cudonigera houstonana, Gloveria arizonensis, Grammia geneura, Periploca atrata, Sequoia sphinx (Sphinx sequoiae), subtle pinion (Lithophane subtilis), Loki hairstreak (Mitoura loki), Siva Hairstreak (Mitoura siva)
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rocky, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- thrives in arid, desert-like conditions
Germination Information
Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).; then Cold-moist stratification for 90 days.
Notes: Seeds may require light for germination.
Source: OpenAI GPT-4o