Dwarf juniper

Description

This evergreen shrub is up to 3�' tall and 12' across (rarely larger ). It is densely branched with ascending to spreading branches; young shoots have a tendency to droop (see photo of Drooping Shoots). The bark near the base of older shrubs is gray, thin, and prone to shredding. Most woody branches and twigs are yellowish brown to brown and glabrous, while young shoots are yellowish green, terete, and glabrous. Because of its wide range, different populations of this shrub may display color variations that are slightly different from what have been described. Along young twigs and shoots, there are whorls of 3 needle-like leaves. Relative to the orientation of their twigs and shoots, the leaves are ascending and slightly incurved. The hairless leaves are 8-16 mm. (1/3�2/3") in length, 1.0-1.5 mm. across, linear in shape, slightly concave along their upper surfaces, and slightly convex along their lower surfaces. The upper leaf surface has a glaucous white band along the middle of its length and 2 green bands along its margins; these bands are similar in width. The lower leaf surface is yellowish green to green. Generally, young leaves are a lighter shade of green than older leaves. The leaves have acute to narrowly acute tips, while their bases are sessile.