Food - The fruits are roasted and used in the preparation of a coffee-like beverage. A tea is made from the young branch tips. Medicine - An infusion of the branches, or fleshy cones, has been used in the treatment of coughs, colds and fevers. The cones or branches can also be used as a steam bath. An infusion of the seeds has been used in the treatment of kidney problems. Ornamental- Popular ornamental plant for ground cover, erosion control, and landscaping.
Subarctic America to USA
Thrives in sandy, well-drained soils in sunny locations.
It is low-growing evergreen conifer that spreads horizontally along the ground.
Stem is slender, flexible that branch out to form a dense mat.
Leaves are small, scale-like that overlap each other, giving the plant a textured appearance.
Flowers are small, inconspicuous, yellow-green cones that produce pollen. Female plants have small, berry-like cones that mature into blue-green fruits.
Fruit is small, berry-like cone that contain seeds.