Juniperus osteosperma

Utah juniper is in the cypress or Cupressaceae family and is native to southwestern United States, mainly Utah, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico but also is found in smaller areas in surrounding states. It is a shrub or small tree growing in dry climates at 1,300 to 2,600 m in elevation.

• Adult leaves are small (1–2 mm long) scale-like, in desiccate pairs (occasionally whorls of 3), and tight against the branches, green to gray-green. Juvenile leaves (on young seedlings only) are needle-like, 5–10 mm long.
• Species is largely monoecious; both males and females are small (3 mm long), reddish brown terminal cones; females mature into larger, round, blue-brown berry-like cones 8-13 mm in diameter, covered in a whitish waxy bloom.
• Shoots are fairly thick (up to 2 cm in diameter) compared to most junipers; bark is gray with very irregular furrows and scaly ridged.