Common Juniper
 

Mature Size, Growth, Longevity

This is a small/medium-size evergreen tree, normally 5-10' tall (to 15-40'), and 8-12' wide, Ascending, spreading branches, or may be a sprawling shrub w/ many branches. Slow growth rate. Long-lived, even on exposed sites, up to 200 years, or more.

Native Range

U.S. Native — This plant has a native distribution greater than any other tree or shrub, including north & central Europe, mountainous countries bordering on the Mediterranean, Asia Minor, the Caucasus, Iran, Afghanistan, W. Himalaya, N. & eastern U.S. and Canada.

Flower and Fruit Details

Dioecious flowers, male 0.33" diameter, yellowish to brown with yellow stamens. Female flowers green to yellow-green with a cone-like appearance. Fruits on female plants Aug-April. Solitary cones require 2-3 years to ripen, changing from green to bluish or black when ripe, but covered with a gray, waxy bloom. Cones are 0.25-0.5" in size. The 3 scales of each cone split open to expose 2-3 seeds.

Leaf and Bark Features

Evergreen: Spiny-pointed awls, 3/5", gray-green to blue-green in summer, changing to yellow-green to brownish-green in winter, The exfoliating bark is grayish-brown to reddish-brown, scaly to papery.

Culture and Care

Tolerates any soil type, any pH (5-8.5), wind, drought & salt. Grows out of rock, near salt spray, and in waste lands. Amazing adaptability. Avoid shading & flooding. Not quite as heat tolerant as some of the other junipers, so not for Zones 7 or higher. Best in Zones 2-6. May be somewhat sensitive to soil compaction. Susceptible to juniper tip blight fungus (Phomopsis) disease. Avoid shade and nighttime overhead watering to help prevent foliage diseases.

Strengths, Weaknesses, Other Facts

Grows on just about any sunny site. Good wildlife value. 3-season interest: Spring, Summer, and Fall. Not as ornamentally attractive as many other more refined junipers, especially during the winter, when foliage may go off-color. Fruits are used for flavoring gin, and as a diuretic. Creates a songbird haven, due to frequent abundant fruit production on female plants.

Suggested Uses

A good, tough, adaptable plant for any tough site where other evergreens may not survive, such as sandy or rocky soils, waste areas, heavy clays, saline soils, or extremely cold climates. Also good for naturalized areas and songbird sanctuaries.

Taxa and Plants of this Species at BCA