The Virginia juniper is a species of juniper native to North America.
The Virginia juniper is a conifer that can live to a very old age—nearly 800 years in its native habitat, the United States. It has two types of foliage: when young, it has needles, and as it ages, it develops scales.
The Virginia juniper has fragrant, reddish, lightweight, and very durable wood. Native Americans used it to make bows. Its "berries" have been used to flavor gin. French settlers named the capital of Louisiana “Bâton Rouge” because of the color of its wood. It is used as a Christmas tree in Missouri. For those who want to plant it, it is a slow-growing tree that prefers calcareous soils; it is resistant to both cold and heat.
