Juniperus communis
Common name:
Common Juniper
Pronunciation:
ju-NIP-er-us kom-MU-nis
Family:
Cupressaceae
Genus:
Type:
Conifer
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon:
Yes
- Conifer, evergreen, various forms, from a prostrate ground cover (less than 18 inches, 45 cm), or sprawling shrub, to a medium sized tree, 5-10 ft (1.5-3 m) high, branchlets triangular. Leaves only awl-shaped (needles), 3-15 mm long, 1-2 mm wide, spreading at a wide angle from the stem, tapering to a spiny point, concave above with a broad white band on upper-side, often in whorls of three. Usually dioecious. Female cones, solitary, 12 mm long, globose, green at first then bluish or black, covered with waxy bloom.
- Sun. Grows in very poor soils, very adaptable to different soil types.
- Hardy to USDA Zone 2 Junierus communis has a wider distribution than any other tree or shrub and the only circumpolar conifer of the northern hemisphere. Its native range extends from the subarctic to much of the temperate Northern Hemisphere, from North America (north of Mexico) to most of Europe to northern regions of central and eastern Asia, including Korea and Japan. There are several varieties (var.) or subspecies (ssp.) associated with this species, but there is no general agreement as to the number or their identity.
- Oil distilled from the fleshy cones is used in flavorings (e.g., gin).
- communis: common
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A number of cultivars are offered, including:
- Alpine Carpet™ (‘Mondap’) - low dense spreading habit, slow growing, to 8 inches (20 cm) tall, 3-4 ft (0.9-1.2 m) wide, deep blue-green foliage.
- Blueberry Delight™ (‘AmiDak’) - about 1 ft (30 cm) tall and 5 ft ( 1.5 m), dark green foliage, named for its prolific production of blue fruit, Zone 3; introduced by North Dakota State University.
- ‘Compressa’ - upright and very narrow, branches upright, slow growing, (2-3 cm per year), usually less than 30 inches (80 cm) tall,
- ‘Depressa Aurea’ - rarely above 4 ft (1.2 m) high, essentially procumbent, new shoots strongly colored yellow, fades with time.
- ‘Effusa’ - flat 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) high, spreading, 6-8 ft (1.8-2.4 m) wide, open habit, new foliage is cinnamon-brown, maturing to bright green.
- ‘Gold Cone’ - upright habit, columnar, to 12-15 ft (3.5-4.5 m) tall, dense, foliage tipped in yellow.
- ‘Green Carpet’ - ground cover, only 4-6 inches (8-15 cm) high, slowly spreading to 3 ft (0.9 m).
- ‘Pioneer’ - low growing, height to 1 ft (0.3 m) with a 3 ft (0.9 m) spread.
- ‘Repanda’ - creeping form, flat to round, 5 ft (1.5 m) wide and about 1 ft (30 cm) high, branches thin and densely arranged, needles 5-8 mm, soft, not sharp to the touch.
- ‘Sentinel’ (‘Pencil Point’) - very narrow columnar form, to 6 ft (1.8 m) tall, bright green foliage.
Click image to enlarge
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prostrate habit in native habitat
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plant habit, prostrate
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plant habit, semi-upright
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plant habit, upright
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leaves (needles)
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branches and needles
