The Ashe Juniper (Juniperus ashei) is the dominant native tree species of the Texas Hill Country. One of six Juniperus species from the Cypress family (Cupressaceae) in Texas, but the only one in the Texas Hill Country, Ashe Juniper has existed here for tens of thousands of years.
What is the prettiest juniper?
4 Best Juniper Cultivars for your Winter Landscape Design
Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) Rocky Mountain Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum) Chinese Juniper (Juniperus chinensis) Nana (Juniperus procumbens)
How do you remove Ashe juniper?
Ashe junipers of any size can be killed by cutting at or slightly above the soil surface with an ax, chain saw, or hand-pruning shears. Redberry juniper seedlings and saplings can also be killed if cut at the soil surface, as long as the “bud zone” (a swollen “bulb” on the basal stem) is still above the soil surface.
Why do Texans call juniper cedar?
McGreevy said early Texas pioneers first called ashe juniper trees “cedar” because of its similarities to Eastern red cedar, but neither tree is truly a cedar tree. “When the Europeans first came here (to the New World) and they encountered our Eastern red cedar, they called it cedar because of its aroma.”
How do you identify Ashe juniper?
Blue seed cones and pollen cones reach maturity in December to February. Reaches reproductive maturity at heights as short as 4′. Its bark is reddish-brown and peels into long strips. Male trees have small green or brown pollen cones. Female trees have blue juniper “berries.”
Is Ashe juniper invasive?
Although Ashe Juniper is native to central Texas, it is considered an invasive weed by many landowners and developers. It is true that young, shallow rooted, multi-trunked and dense Ashe Juniper invades grasslands that have been fire suppressed and overgrazed.
What should I plant next to juniper?
Plants with blue flowers, berries or leaves make good companion plants for juniper. When you are looking for juniper plant companions, think about bamboo. Bamboo species, particularly dwarf bamboo plants, are also good choices for juniper companion plants.
What is the smallest juniper tree?
The largest growth size of a Chinese juniper tree is up to 50 feet in height while the largest Chinese juniper shrub does not grow more than 8 feet in height. On the other hand, the smallest Chinese juniper tree is known to be 10 feet tall while the shrub is as small as 3 feet and under.
Do junipers change color in winter?
Juniper (Juniperus): Depending on the species, foliage may develop a bronze, purple, or yellow-brown cast in cold weather.
Do juniper bushes grow back?
Although a juniper won’t grow back from a branch that has no green growth, careful pruning can revive the shrub.
What kills a juniper tree?
The combination of the south sun and winter winds can be a deadly combination for junipers. The needles simply dry up and the water in the root zone is frozen and unavailable for the plant to replenish the loss of moisture. Another cause could be a rapid drop in temperature after a warm and sunny day.
What’s the difference between Cedar and juniper?
Eastern Red Cedar is very closely related to the Common Juniper, in fact they are in the same genus. The key obvious difference is that Juniper seldom grows as a tree, whereas Red Cedar nearly always does.
How fast does Ashe juniper grow?
It can take 10 to 40 years for Ashe’s juniper to establish stands that are over 4 feet (1.2 m) tall [33,50].
Is mountain cedar and juniper the same thing?
Despite its common name, the mountain cedar is actually a juniper (Juniperus ashei). Every year around December, we blunder into the midst of the cedar’s mating ritual. It begins with the appearance of the male cones—embarrassingly small, amber-colored structures no larger than a grain of rice.
How tall does a Spartan juniper get?
Spartan juniper trees grow in a pyramidal shape with dense branches and deep green year-round color. They grow to be just 15 feet tall, with a narrow spread of 3-5 feet, making them great additions to compact spaces. They don’t require any pruning and will retain their columnar shape without being clipped.
Is Ashe juniper a hardwood or softwood?
Ashe Juniper grows as a native North American hardwood and hard it is. It splits easily and has only minima value as a furniture wood.
Does Ashe juniper make good firewood?
Juniper is one of the most sustainable woods available, making it a good choice for firewood. However, it burns fast and at lower temperatures, meaning you will need more juniper wood to stay warm during the winter.
