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Ashe Juniper
Juniperus ashei, cypress family. Abundant in Central and West Texas.
At a glance
- What
- Blue berries (cones)
- How
- A few as a juniper spice
- When
- Winter
- Where
- Hill Country slopes, the 'cedar' of Central Texas
- Value
- Aromatic seasoning
Caution: Seasoning only, and just a few berries; concentrated juniper is unsafe in quantity and in pregnancy. Never eat a wild plant on this guide's word alone. Confirm identity against several sources and learn the look-alikes first.
Identification
The shaggy-barked 'mountain cedar' that famously fills Central Texas air with pollen. Its blue berries are the useful part.
Uses
Use a crushed berry or two to lend a resinous, gin-like note to hearty dishes.
Photo: Internet Archive Book Images, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons.
Forages well with
Forage safely. Never eat a wild plant on this site's word alone. Confirm identity with several sources, learn the look-alikes, and when in doubt, leave it in the ground.