Common juniper, is a coniferous evergreen shrub or tree with the largest geographical range of any woody plant. Size is very variable from a small prostrate spreading shrub to large trees. The form Juniperus communis compress for example only grows to 0.8m. The fruit is edible used as a flavouring in sauerkraut, stuffings, vegetable pates etc, and is an essential ingredient of gin. Medicinally it has antiseptic, aromatherapy, aromatic, carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic, rubefacient, stomachic and tonic properties. Many forms of this species are good ground cover plants for sunny situations. Forms to try include 'Depressa Aurea', 'Dumosa', 'Effusa', and 'Repanda'.
Bloom Color: Brown, Yellow. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Oval, Prostrate, Spreading or horizontal, Upright or erect.
Juniperus communis is an evergreen Shrub growing to 9 m by 4 m at a slow rate.
It is hardy to zone 2 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from May to June, and the seeds ripen in October. The species is dioecious . and is pollinated by Wind. The plant is not self-fertile.
Suitable for: light , medium and heavy soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay and nutritionally poor soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic soils and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils.
It can grow in semi-shade or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.
Landscape Uses:Specimen. An easily grown plant, it succeeds in hot dry soils and in poor soils. Succeeds in most soils so long as they are well drained, preferring a neutral or slightly alkaline soil. Does well in chalky soils. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Tolerates a pH range from 4 to 8. Succeeds in light woodland but dislikes heavy shade. Established plants are very tolerant of drought. Although the fully dormant plant is cold-tolerant throughout Britain, the young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts. All parts of the plant are very aromatic. Juniper is a very polymorphic species that has a long history of culinary and medicinal use. It is frequently grown in the ornamental and herb garden, there is a huge range of cultivars of widely diverse habits. At least some forms tolerate maritime exposure, there is a thriving colony in an exposed position at Land's End in Cornwall. The fruits take 2 - 3 years to ripen on the plant. Plants are usually very slow growing, often only a few centimetres a year. Resists honey fungus. Plants are sometimes attacked by a rust, this fungus has an aecidial stage on hawthorn . Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. Special Features:
North American native, Fragrant foliage, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms.
Habitatsheaths
Habitatsmoors
Habitatspine and birch woods in the north of Scotland on acid peat
Habitatsoften dominant on chalk
Habitatslimestone and slate.
HabitatsWoodland Garden Secondary
HabitatsSunny Edge
HabitatsDappled Shade
HabitatsGround Cover
HabitatsCultivated Beds
HabitatsWoodland Garden Secondary
HabitatsSunny Edge
HabitatsDappled Shade
HabitatsGround Cover
HabitatsCultivated Beds
Resources
Attract ants against white stem borer in coffee
FACTSHEETS FOR FARMERSCreated in
Tanzania
,
November2012
https://www.plantwise.org/KnowledgeBank/factsheetforfarmers/20147801032Attract ants against white stem borer in coffee
FACTSHEETS FOR FARMERS
Cabi Plantwise Knowledge Bank
www.plantwise.org
Created in
Tanzania
,
November
2012Biocontrol of rice stem borer
FACTSHEETS FOR FARMERS www.plantwise.org Created in Nepal , September 2012 Biocontrol of Rice Stem borer Recognize the problem The rice stem borer is a moth a
Cabi Plantwise Knowledge BankBrown plant hopper of rice
FACTSHEETS FOR FARMERS
Cabi Plantwise Knowledge Bank
www.plantwise.org
Created in
Bangladesh
,
August
2012
Brown plant hopper of riceBrown plant hopper of rice
FACTSHEETS FOR FARMERSCreated in
Bangladesh
,
August2012
https://www.plantwise.org/KnowledgeBank/factsheetforfarmers/20137804473
Minor pests
- Armillaria mellea
Armillaria ostoyae
Callidiellum rufipenne
Cinara cupressi sensu lato
Gymnosporangium clavipes
Heterobasidion abietinum
Heterobasidion annosum
Heterobasidion parviporum
Hylurgops palliatus
Lymantria monacha
Otiorhynchus armadillo
Panolis flammea
Pityogenes chalcographus
Seiridium cardinale
Sphaeropsis sapinea