Taxonomy

Division:

Coniferophyta | - Conifers

Family:

Cupressaceae

Genus:

Juniperus

Species:

Juniperus flaccida

USDA Symbol:

JUFL

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Tree

Height:

1200 cm

Light Requirements:

Part Shade

Drought Tolerance:

High

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:

★★★★☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds, small mammals

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fragrant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Mature trees may survive low-intensity fire due to thick bark; resprouts poorly. Fire generally reduces juniper populations.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rocky, well-drained, calcareous soil

pH:

6.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to alkaline)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

native to arid and semi-arid regions

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 90–180 days

Germination Time:

30–120 days

Notes:

Seeds have embryo dormancy requiring warm followed by cold stratification. Germination can be erratic and may take multiple seasons.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI