CALIFORNIA JUNIPER

Evergreen junipers are a diverse family, ranging from ground-hugging shrubs to towering trees.

They can be found in many shapes, sizes and foliage colors almost anywhere in the world except in wet soils. Junipers often serve as pioneers in abandoned fields, creating an environment in which other trees and plant life can also thrive.

California juniper (Juniperus californica) , a shrub-like tree found in chaparral, woodland and other plant communities below 5,000 feet, is the most common variety found in the Los Angeles area.

The various varieties of juniper trees grow as tall as 50 feet, while shrubs can be up to four feet.

The California juniper normally reaches a height of about 12 feet. Its foliage is yellowish to rich green in color. The bark on the tree’s fluted trunk is reddish brown to brown, while the sharp, needle-like leaves are about 3/4 of an inch long, spreading at almost right angles to the twigs.

The berries, which are about half an inch in diameter, are bluish at first but turn reddish-brown as they mature in the autumn of their second year.

Through the centuries, junipers have been used as a remedy for medical complaints. Some American Indians made a tea from juniper twigs that they believed remedied colds and upset stomachs.

Pictured is a juniper growing at Vasquez Rocks in Agua Dulce, a common outdoor location for making Western television shows and movies.