Juniperus ashei

Ashe's juniper

Did you know?:

Ashe's juniper was named in honor or William Willard Ashe (1872-1932) who was a pioneer forester of the U.S. Forest Service and collected a specimen of this plant in Arkansas. The wood of Juniperus ashei is often used for fence posts due to its durability and resistance to rot. The peeling strips of bark from Ashe's juniper are used by birds for nesting material, most notably the endangered golden-cheeked warbler. This plant is known colloquially as “cedar” throughout much of its range and is a source of agony for many allergy-sufferers when its pollen is released during the winter months.

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What does this species look like?

Ashe's juniper is an evergreen, conifer tree growing 33 to 40 feet tall. Male and female cones occur on separate trees. Its male cones are small, yellow, and inconspicuous, and bear pollen. Its female cones are small, berry-like, and wind- pollinated, and mature in one year.

Ashe's juniper is typically found on soils that have been derived from limestone. It is common in lower elevation oak-cedar savannas and prairie margins. It is a highly drought-tolerant plant.

Why observe this species?

Ashe's juniper is a USA-NPN regional plant species. Regional species are ecologically or economically important and are distributed more locally than calibration species. The NPN integrates these observations to better understand plant responses within the different geographic regions of the nation. In addition, this species is an allergen. Observations on its phenology will provide valuable information to benefit people with allergies and the public health community. Find out more about pollen forecasting at the University of Tulsa.

Where is this species found?

U.S. States:

AR, MO, OK, TX

click to enlarge

Which phenophases should I observe?

Pollen cones	Do you see...? *Pollen cones* Image of Pollen cones One or more fresh male pollen cones (strobili) are visible on the plant. Cones have overlapping scales that are initially tightly closed, then spread apart to open the cone and release pollen. Do not include wilted or dried cones that have released all of their pollen but remain on the plant. How many fresh pollen cones are present? Less than 3 3 to 10 More than 10 More... *Open pollen cones* Image of Open pollen cones One or more open fresh male pollen cones (strobili) are visible on the plant. Cones are considered "open" when the scales have spread apart to release pollen. Do not include wilted or dried cones that have released all of their pollen but remain on the plant. How many fresh pollen cones are open? Less than 3 3 to 10 More than 10 Peak opening: One half (50%) or more of the pollen cones on the plant are open and still fresh. More... *Pollen release* One or more male cones (strobili) on the plant release pollen when gently shaken or blown. How many cones release pollen? Less than 3 3 to 10 More than 10 Peak pollen: One half (50%) or more of the pollen cones on the plant release pollen. More...
Seed cones	Do you see...? *Unripe seed cones* One or more unripe female seed cones are visible on the plant. For Juniperus ashei, an unripe seed cone is berry-like and green. How many seed cones are unripe? Less than 3 3 to 10 More than 10 More... *Ripe seed cones* Image of Ripe seed cones One or more ripe female seed cones are visible on the plant. For Juniperus ashei, a berry-like seed cone is considered ripe when it has turned dark blue or purple, often with a whitish film that rubs off. How many seed cones are ripe? Less than 3 3 to 10 More than 10 More... *Recent seed cone drop* One or more mature seed cones or seeds have dropped or been removed from the plant since your last visit. Do not include obviously immature seed cones that have dropped before ripening, such as in a heavy rain or wind, or empty seed cones that had long ago dropped all seeds but remained on the plant. How many mature seed cones have dropped seeds or have completely dropped from the plant? Less than 3 3 to 10 More than 10 More...

Pollen cones

Do you see...?

Pollen cones Image of Pollen cones
One or more fresh male pollen cones (strobili) are visible on the plant. Cones have overlapping scales that are initially tightly closed, then spread apart to open the cone and release pollen. Do not include wilted or dried cones that have released all of their pollen but remain on the plant.

How many fresh pollen cones are present?

Less than 3

3 to 10

More than 10

More...

Open pollen cones Image of Open pollen cones
One or more open fresh male pollen cones (strobili) are visible on the plant. Cones are considered "open" when the scales have spread apart to release pollen. Do not include wilted or dried cones that have released all of their pollen but remain on the plant.

How many fresh pollen cones are open?

Less than 3

3 to 10

More than 10

Peak opening: One half (50%) or more of the pollen cones on the plant are open and still fresh.

More...

Pollen release
One or more male cones (strobili) on the plant release pollen when gently shaken or blown.

How many cones release pollen?

Less than 3

3 to 10

More than 10

Peak pollen: One half (50%) or more of the pollen cones on the plant release pollen.

More...

Seed cones

Do you see...?

Unripe seed cones
One or more unripe female seed cones are visible on the plant. For Juniperus ashei, an unripe seed cone is berry-like and green.

How many seed cones are unripe?

Less than 3

3 to 10

More than 10

More...

Ripe seed cones Image of Ripe seed cones
One or more ripe female seed cones are visible on the plant. For Juniperus ashei, a berry-like seed cone is considered ripe when it has turned dark blue or purple, often with a whitish film that rubs off.

How many seed cones are ripe?

Less than 3

3 to 10

More than 10

More...

Recent seed cone drop
One or more mature seed cones or seeds have dropped or been removed from the plant since your last visit. Do not include obviously immature seed cones that have dropped before ripening, such as in a heavy rain or wind, or empty seed cones that had long ago dropped all seeds but remained on the plant.

How many mature seed cones have dropped seeds or have completely dropped from the plant?

Less than 3

3 to 10

More than 10

More...

For more information

USDA PLANTS profile for Ashe's juniper (USDA Symbol: JUAS)
ITIS information for Ashe's juniper (ITIS TSN: 194812)

Acknowledgments

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