can anyone identify this tree? it smells amazing!

[JasonToews]

close up of the needles

the tree

Was thinking of using it in an ale.

 

[gwcr]

Can you describe the smell (beyond the amazing part )?

 

[passedpawn]

looks like a fir to me.

 

[JasonToews]

kinda piny, lemony type smell, hard to describe. I've been looking on the internet to try and figure it out, but since the needles are so clustered its hard to find a match

 

[Yooper]

Bob is looking it up- but he says it's a juniper but isn't sure of the exact species without looking it up.

I assume it's not a native tree, but instead a yard specimen? The problem with identifying yard specimens is that they could be European or Asian plants, and any number of plants.

 

[gwcr]

my first thought was a juniper also, but the lemony smell would be different from the junipers we had growing up. Our junipers had more of a gin type smell to them from the wierd blue-green colored berries.

 

[Gear101]

Bob is looking it up- but he says it's a juniper but isn't sure of the exact species without looking it up.

I assume it's not a native tree, but instead a yard specimen? The problem with identifying yard specimens is that they could be European or Asian plants, and any number of plants.

Almost looks like a blue, but hard to tell with the pic?

 

[JasonToews]

it is kinda blue, and yes it was here when I moved in, dont think its native to BC. thanks for the help guys. If anyones for sure, please do let me know!

 

[Yooper]

Bob says his best guess is the Rocky Mountain Juniper. Juniperus scopulorum - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[JasonToews]

hmm, possibly, its never produced any cones or berries though. May still be young. I've been here 6 years now. Thanks for the help guys!

 

[denimglen]

I think the same tree is growing outside my parents house. No idea what it is though, will ask later tonight.

I've never seen it fruit or flower or anything either, and has been there at least 20 years.

I don't think it's the Juniperus scopulorum, the leaves definitely have a bluish color and the little leaves think look different to that close up. Could be the 'blue arrow' varietal they mention further down in the entry?

 

[JasonToews]

Im thinking its blue rug juniper

all though again no berries, but these needles look very similar

 

[brandonhagen1]

looks like a blue spruce to me

 

[TXmoonshine]

Try a blue spruce. It grows 6-12 inches a year. It is often found in landscapes because of its color hue and that it grows relatively slow. One of my fave trees in the world though the pic of the branch looked a bit smashed. I does smell great all year around and I have dried the needles and put them in a poperi pot for the smell. It may add a great sent to a seasonal. I'll try it too.

 

[JLem]

Try a blue spruce. It grows 6-12 inches a year. It is often found in landscapes because of its color hue and that it grows relatively slow. One of my fave trees in the world though the pic of the branch looked a bit smashed. I does smell great all year around and I have dried the needles and put them in a poperi pot for the smell. It may add a great sent to a seasonal. I'll try it too.

It doesn't look like a blue spruce. I agree that it looks like some sort of juniper. Could be an eastern red cedar, which is actually a type of juniper.

 

[denimglen]

This may be of some help:

Identifying Conifers [pdf]

At work so I can't have a good look over yet. All my mother knew of her's is that it was a conifer - which doesn't narrow it down too much ;-)

EDIT: Corrected link.

 

[Yooper]

It's definitely not a blue spruce- it's most certainly a juniper. But it's hard to identify exact species in a photo.

 

[Yooper]

It doesn't look like a blue spruce. I agree that it looks like some sort of juniper. Could be an eastern red cedar, which is actually a type of juniper.

Bob says it's either a non-native juniper from asia, or it could be a Western Red Cedar (probably not eastern) but indeed a juniper, but he really feels it's that Rocky Mountain Juniper, if not positively identified as otherwise.

 

[JasonToews]

ill just go with rocky mountain juniper. thanks Yooper and Bob. hmm if its cedar then its toxic. Maybe ill go to a nursery and get it checked

 

[sudsmcgee]

It should have a gin character.

 

[SenorPepe]

Make a sahti?

 

[JasonToews]

thats what im thinking, but now im worried about making a toxic brew.

 

[JLem]

thats what im thinking, but now im worried about making a toxic brew.

I don't think junipers are toxic (it's not a true cedar)...though I am no expert on plant toxicology

 

[kh54s10]

Brew it up and take a swig. If you don't die it was not toxic!

A good nursery may be your best bet on getting it identified.

 

[Airborneguy]

BYO last month had an article about using juniper boughs in a traditional Swedish brew. I was reading it last night. The recipe called for over 4lbs if you could get the real thing.

 

[MrAverage]

I think it's not a juniper but rather it's a Boulevard Cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera)

One thing that will help to narrow it down; Are the needles stiff or soft? If stiff, then it's probably a junpier. If soft, then it's propbably a cypress.

Google it for lots of pictures, but this one will get you started: PlantFiles: Picture #1 of Sawara False Cypress, Boulevard Cypress, Blue Moss Cypress 'Boulevard' (Chamaecyparis pisifera)

 

[Brewitt]

If it is a juniper I think there is probably little to worry about in terms of toxicity. Juniper berries are one of the predominant flavors (besides alcohol) in Bombay Gin. The distillation is done through a bed of juniper berries so that some of the aromatics are infused into the alcohol.

 

[JasonToews]

I think it's not a juniper but rather it's a Boulevard Cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera)

Your right! Got it checked today. So Im guessing probably not good to brew with as it can irritate your skin, not sure how it would be if you ingested it.