Texas Wildbuds
Juniperus deppeana
(Alligator Juniper)
Juniperus deppeana, Laguna Meadows Trail, Chisos Basin, Big Bend National Park 08676
Juniperus deppeana, Laguna Meadows Trail, Chisos Basin, Big Bend National Park 08675
Juniperus deppeana, Laguna Meadows Trail, Chisos Basin, Big Bend National Park 08683
Juniperus deppeana, Laguna Meadows Trail, Chisos Basin, Big Bend National Park 08677
Juniperus deppeana, Laguna Meadows Trail, Chisos Basin, Big Bend National Park 08684
Juniperus deppeana, Laguna Meadows Trail, Chisos Basin, Big Bend National Park 08685
| Scientific Name | Juniperus deppeana | USDA PLANTS Symbol | JUDE2 |
| Common Name | Alligator Juniper, Checker-bark Juniper | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 194834 |
| Family | Cupressaceae (Cypress) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description | Habitat: Dry, rocky soils on slopes, scrub oak areas and conifer woodlands; 4,500-10,000 ft. Plant: Tree or shrub, 22 to 50 ft. tall with a single, thick trunk and up to 40 inches in diameter; large, spreading branches forming a broad pyramid-shaped or rounded crown; thick grayish or dark brown bark with deep furrows into square or rectangular plates. Leaves: Needle-like branchlets are covered with closely appressed, scale-like leaves, rhombic-ovate-shaped, 1.5 to 3 mm long with apiculate tip; blue-green. Cones: Staminate (male) cones at branch tips, 3 to 4 mm long, oblong; pistillate (female) cones t branch tips, 8 to 20 mm long, nearly spherical to broadly ellipsoid, green, becoming bluish to reddish tan to red-brown in second year. Bloom Period: Non-flowering gymnosperm; cones appear in January to March. References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston, SEINet, Southwest Desert Flora and Gymnosperm Database. |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key | Texas Status: Native |
Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County
© Tom Lebsack 2025
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