Western Juniper Facts and Information

Western juniper populations have expanded and contracted over the last 7,000 years. Within the last 150 years or so, the population and acreage covered by western juniper has increased three- to ten-fold.

This expansion has many ranchers, resource professionals, and even enviromentalists concerned about juniper’s impacts on rangeland conditions.

Juniper are known to out-compete surrounding vegetation for already scarce water resources. An area with relatively high juniper densities often has little to no understory vegetation. This lack of understory vegetation also serves as excellent fire protection for the junipers, allowing them to spread even faster.  If little to nothing is growing under them then the fire has a difficult time of spreading from tree to tree.

Juniper have historically been removed in order to improve rangeland conditions. Unfortunately, little to no use has existed for the wood aside from fence posts or firewood and to a much lesser extent, furniture.

Below, are some interesting numerical  facts about Western Juniper.

Properties of Western Juniper vs. Other Common Species*

Species Density (lbs/ft3) Fiber/Vessel length (mm) Fiber dia. (mm) Alpha cellulose (%) lignin (%)
western juniper 31.0 1.60 0.012-0.031 38.6 35.5
eastern redcedar 32.9 2.15 0.020-0.030 ? ?
ponderosa pine 28.0 3.60 0.035-0.060 45.0 25.1
lodgepole pine 24.0 3.50 0.035-0.055 47.3 25.9
Douglas-fir (coastal) 34.0 4.50 0.035-0.055 52.6 28.0
white fir 22.0 3.50 0.035-0.050 49.1 27.8
western hemlock 24.0 4.00 0.030-0.050 50.0 29.9
red alder 25.0 1.20/ 0.85 ? 44.0 24.1
sugar maple 44.0 0.92/ 0.41 ? 49.2 21.5
Northern red oak 44.0 1.32/ 0.42 ? 46.0 23.9

Mechanical and Physical Properties of Western Juniper and Other Commonly Used Woods

Species Specific Gravity @12% MC Density (lbs/ft3) @12% MC Compression Strength-parallel to grain @12% MC (psi) MOE- Bending Stiffness @12% MC (Million psi) MOR-Bending Strength @12% MC (psi)
western juniper 0.44 31 5115 0.79 8540
Coastal Douglas-fir 0.48 34 7230 1.95 12400
ponderosa pine 0.40 28 5320 1.29 9400
eastern redcedar 0.47 33 6020 0.88 8800
incense-cedar 0.37 25 5200 1.04 8000
northern red oak 0.63 44 6760 1.82 14300
red alder 0.41 29 5820 1.38 9800

 

Species Hardness @12% MC (lbs.) Volumetric Shrinkage (%) Nail Withdrawal Strength (side grain) (psi) Machining Gluing Finishing Bending
western juniper 665 7.95 197 VG E E VG
Coastal Douglas-fir 710 12.4 184 G VG F F
ponderosa pine 460 9.7 117 VG VG G P
eastern redcedar 900 7.8 175 VG E E ?
incense-cedar 470 7.7 96 E E E P
northern red oak 1290 13.7 363 VG F F E
red alder 590 12.6 124 VG E ? ?