Old Gnarled Juniper Tree, Red Rocks Desert

Jazzed for juniper

Juniper isn't just the key ingredient in a refreshing gin and tonic, but also the backbone of an important Wild West biome. Pinyon-juniper woodlands cover much of the mountain states' middle elevations between 4,500 and 7,500 feet, acting as a buffer between scrubby plains below and tall pines above. Often, pinyons and junipers are virtually the only plant life in these arid areas. Some specimens, like this Utah juniper in Capitol Reef National Park, attain impressive sizes (not to mention interesting shapes) despite the dry, low-nutrient soil.