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Alligator Juniper

Juniperus deppeana

Other common name(s):

Checkerbark Juniper, Western Juniper, Oakbark Cedar, Thickbark Cedar, Mountain Cedar, Tascate, Tacate, Tlascal

Family:

Cupressaceae (Cypress Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Chihuahuan Deserts
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Tree

Height

15
to
20
ft.

Spread

15
to
20
ft.

Leaf Retention

Evergreen

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Rocky, Limestone, Well Drained, Dry

Light Requirement

Sun

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

White, Brown

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Seeds, Forage

Wildlife Benefit

Browsers, Birds, Small Mammals

Maintenance

Medium to fast growing if watered. Can adapt to grow over much of Texas. Propagation: seed.

Comments

Found on dry, rocky slopes from 4,500-10,000 ft. Very adaptable. Often associated with scrub oak. Invades disturbed sites. Fast growing. Flowers inconspicuous. Pollen cones cream to brownish. Scaly, blue-green needles. Copper colored fruit on females. Bark ashy gray outside, dark brown to black inside, with distinctive deeply fissured into smaller rectangular plates, which gives it “alligator skin” appearance.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Synonym/s: Juniperus deppeana ssp. sperryi, Juniperus deppeana var. pachyphlaea, Juniperus deppeana var. sperryi, Juniperus mexicana, Juniperus pachyderma

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=JUDE2. 3) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=8222&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 4) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Juniperus+deppeana&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 5) Wasowski, Sally and Wasowski, Andy, Native Texas Plants, Landscaping Region by Region, 1988, 1991, pg 315. 6) Miller, George O., Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas 2nd Ed., 2013, pg 48. 7) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=194834#null

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State Office Phone: 830.997.9272

State Office Address:
Native Plant Society of Texas
PO Box 3017
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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