All plants /Tree /Redberry Juniper
Redberry Juniper
Juniperus pinchotii, cypress family. Common in West Texas.
At a glance
- What
- Reddish berries (cones)
- How
- A few as seasoning
- When
- Fall
- Where
- West Texas rangeland
- Value
- Aromatic seasoning
Caution: A seasoning in tiny amounts only; not a food, and unsafe in quantity. Never eat a wild plant on this guide's word alone. Confirm identity against several sources and learn the look-alikes first.
Identification
Unlike its blue-fruited cousins, this West Texas juniper carries coppery-red berries.
Uses
Same rule as any juniper: a pinch of crushed berry for aroma, nothing more.
Photo: CK Kelly, CC BY 4.0, 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.