Seaside Juniper
November 9, 2022
By Adam Huggins
Seaside Juniper
Juniperus maritima
- Hul’qumi’num Name: p’tth’une’lhp
- Description: Evergreen tree with peeling bark, growing to 15m or more. Leaves needle-like when young, scale-like with age. Glaucous green-blue cones borne on upturned branches.
- Habitat: Coastal bluffs and rock outcrops. Never far from the ocean.
- Harvest: Cones, or ‘juniper berries’, present in winter.
- Edibility: Cones can be eaten fresh in moderation, and are used in various dishes and beverages.
- Fun Fact: Can live up to 200 years. Prefers alkaline soils.