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Description

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.

Cultivation

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.

HabitatsChalk downs in S. England but only where there is least sunshine and most rain
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

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