Appearance
Juniper species grow as shrubs or trees. They are all evergreen and develop flaky to needle-shaped leaves. Low species reach heights of a few meters. They mainly develop creeping to ascending shoots. Large shrubs and trees grow upright and reach heights of over ten meters. The largest juniper grows in Turkey. It is a Syrian juniper with a height of 40 meters.
also read
- Juniper as a ground cover - suitable species and demands
- Juniper as a bonsai - suitable species and care tips
- How to combat pear rust on juniper
Special features of the juniper:
- aromatic wood
- berry-like fruits that represent cones in a botanical sense
- It usually takes one to three years for fruit to ripen
Habitats and occurrences
Juniperus species are very adaptable, which makes them popular ornamental trees. Their distribution area extends from the subarctic tundra to the semi-deserts. Almost all junipers have adapted to drought. They occur in moderately arid regions in the western United States and northern Mexico. Other species grow in Asia, where they dominate the forests. Juniperus communis is the most widespread species among the conifers. It is one of the few species of the genus that are native to Germany.
Typical habitats:
- open heathland
- sandy and gravelly soils
- Steppes and semi-deserts
Popular types and varieties
In addition to the common juniper (Juniperus communis), the Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis) is the most popular ornamental wood of the genus. While the wild form is preferably used for bonsai design, different varieties adorn sunny areas in gardens. The varieties 'Obelisk', 'Aurea', 'Pfitzeriana' or 'Variegata' are popular. The scaly juniper (Juniperus squamata) convinces as an ornamental wood with a structured shape. The branches go straight off the trunk or grow slightly upwards.
The species Juniperus sabina, which is known as the sedge tree or stink juniper, is also popular. The shrub is easy to confuse with the common juniper, but grows lower with creeping to upright shoots. The Rocky Mountain Juniper comes from western North America and is often planted as a solitary wood because of its predominantly single-stemmed habit.