Learn how to identify trees—in one week
National Geographic's Wonder Lessons will teach you how to navigate the stars, spot cloud types, recognize common trees, and identify different kinds of rocks. Today, we’re learning about juniper trees.
Today let’s celebrate the juniper tree (genus Juniperus), whose fresh, woodsy smell comes from a high concentration of essential oils. The female cones are so fragrant, they can be used as a spice.
Like pine trees, juniper trees can live for thousands of years. The Bennett Juniper tree, which grows in a national forest near Sacramento, California, is around 3,000 to 4,000 years old. Most trees in this genus live anywhere from 350 to 700 years.
As evergreen members of the cypress family, junipers thrive in dry, open spaces with plenty of sunlight.
Junipers grow in a range of climates around the world, from the Arctic to grasslands and deserts. Most of the U.S.’s native species grow in the west or southwest, including the Ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei), which is found in central Texas, and the Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma).
Want to experience more wonder? National Geographic’s Wonder List features playful prompts and activities that turn everyday moments into wonder-filled discoveries—for families, anywhere, every day.
Illustrations by: Matt Twombly
Interactive by: JoElla Carman
