Taxonomy

Division:

Coniferophyta | - Conifers

Family:

Cupressaceae

Genus:

Juniperus

Species:

Juniperus pinchotii

USDA Symbol:

JUPI

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Shrub , Tree

Height:

600 cm

Light Requirements:

Part Shade

Drought Tolerance:

High

Landscaping Shrub:

Yes

Wildlife Benefits

Caterpillars:

★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:

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

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds, small mammals

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fragrant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Resprouts vigorously from the root crown after fire or top-kill. This resprouting ability distinguishes it from many other junipers and has contributed to its range expansion.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rocky, well-drained, calcareous soil

pH:

6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly 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) — 90–120 days

Germination Time:

30–180 days

Notes:

Juniper seeds have deep dormancy requiring warm followed by cold stratification. Germination is often erratic and may take multiple seasons.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI