Ash juniper trees are native to Texas. Many Texans hate these trees though. The male trees produce large amounts of pollen from December into February to fertilize the female flowers. These trees are either male or female. The male trees produce pollen and the females produce berries. The pollen produced by the male trees travels through the air in thick clouds at times. If you live near one your yard and car gets covered with it. A lot of people are allergic to the pollen also and get what is called cedar fever.
Ash juniper is often referred to as cedar but it isn't a cedar tree. It is referred to by many names: Texas cedar, mountain cedar, rock cedar, blueberry juniper, enebro and cedro. Many people call it a cedar because the ash juniper is aromatic like cedar and has the same insect repelling qualities.
Ash junipers can grow in very poor soil and need little water. They can grow in full sun or in the shade. However, they grow very slowly in full sun and tend to branch out a lot near the bottom making them look more like a shrub. They can grow more upright in shady conditions if they are planted amongst other things and are crowded. Austin tree service professionals prune these trees to allow the trunks to grow straight and then they develop a nice crown.
Ash junipers are not stately trees like live oaks but are an interesting complement to them and other trees in a stand.
The ash juniper berries are blue and loved by birds. If you want to attract birds the female ash juniper berries will do this. These berries are popular in Northern Europe and the United States in marinades for meat, mostly pork but are also used in stews and soup. They have a sage like flavor that is both sweet and bitter. The oil is extracted from the trees and used as a disinfectant. Inhaling the oil from steaming juniper foliage clears the sinuses because the oil contains about 70% camphor. Camphor has a distinct odor that most people recognize because it is used in mothballs. Some people burn the foliage to disinfect the air.
The wood is very durable and is used in everything from cabinets to fence posts and in cedar lined closets and cedar chests. In fact, cedar posts have been used on ranches in Texas for many years by cattle ranchers to support miles of barbed wire.
