1. General description
2. Common types
3. Common juniper
4. Virginia
5. Cossack
6. Chinese
7. Coastal
8. Rocky
9. Scaly
10. Application
11. Landing
12. Plant care

The juniper genus belongs to the cypress family and has more than 60 species of evergreen shrub forms and trees. The name comes from the Celtic word Jeneprus, meaning "prickly". These plants are distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere from the polar zones to the subtropics. These rocks have existed on the planet for 50 million years. Their peculiarity is the attachment of varieties to certain ecosystems in a rather limited space. The habitats of junipers are discontinuous.

General description

Even tree forms rarely reach 12 m in height, and the diameter of the trunks is about 20 cm. The roots are taproots and penetrate the soil to great depths. Shrub forms range from 1 to 10 m in length. There are also dwarf creeping species, not exceeding 40–70 cm. The bark of young plants is reddish in color, becoming dark brown with age. The shoots are branched and flexible. The crowns are spreading, dense, ovoid, pyramidal or irregular in shape. Leaves are up to 2 cm long, bluish-green, needle-shaped or scaly, collected in whorls. The buds are bare. Most junipers are dioecious, but monoecious species are also found. Male specimens have spikelets consisting of paired stamens. The carpels of female spikelets have 1–2 ovules, and they themselves are collected in pairs into whorls. Juniper fruits are round cones of a bluish, gray or black hue. Their shell consists of tightly closed thin scales. Inside the berries there are several seeds separated by partitions.

Junipers are long-lived plants. Many of them reach 400–600 years of age. Almost all breeds prefer sandy loam, moderately nutritious, slightly alkaline soils, but can exist on poor podzolic, rocky soils and limestone. Most species are photophilous. These evergreen plants, like all conifers, secrete phytoncides that are destructive to various pathogenic microflora. When rubbed in your hands, the needles emit a pungent resinous odor. In places where juniper grows, the air is cleaner and healthier.

In its natural environment, the plant reproduces by seeds. In culture, cuttings or grafting methods are more often used.

Common types

In their natural environment, junipers grow in mixed forests. IN North America, Asia, as well as the Mediterranean, tall shrubs make up small-area sparse pure forests. Creeping species are located in foothill areas, on rocky slopes.

Common juniper

It has the widest distribution area. Found throughout Europe, Siberia, and North America. Other names of the plant: juniper, veres. It is a dioecious shrub about 4–7 m in height, can rise up to 10–12 m. The trunks are thin, about 10–20 cm in diameter, the bark is fibrous, reddish-brown in color. The crown is dense, cone-shaped or round in shape.

The needles are triangular, about 1.5–2 cm long, dark green in color, covered with a translucent waxy coating. The cones of the common juniper are dark blue, 0.6–0.9 mm in size, with a characteristic resinous aroma.

Heather grows very slowly: it grows 15–20 cm per year. The lifespan of the shrub is more than 200 years.

Virginia

This is a monoecious tree species native to North America. Some specimens reach 1.5 m in diameter, rising up to 30 m. In young plants, the bark is gray-green, darkening over time. The branches form a narrow, ovoid-shaped crown. It expands with age. The leaves of the Vergina juniper are similar in structure to cypress: short, scaly, silver-green, bottom tightly adjacent to the branches. The berries are the same as those of the ordinary type: bluish-blue and fragrant.

Based on this species, decorative varieties were bred for landscaping streets and parks. In the temperate climate of northern latitudes, Virginia juniper is planted instead of cypress trees.

Cossack

Miniature low-growing shrub, with a crown height of no more than 1.5 m. The shoots are flexible, covered with finely needle-like light green needles. Cossack juniper is best suited for landscape design. Its advantages include unpretentiousness to care and natural conditions. Withstands sudden temperature changes, strong winds and drought. Deep root system allows it to go without watering for a long time, extracting moisture from distant soil layers. The growth of the Cossack-type shrub is no more than 3–4 cm per year, which allows you to not have to worry about pruning for a long time. Many creeping varieties have been bred on its basis.

A significant disadvantage of this juniper is its toxicity: the needles, berries and bark contain potent alkaloids, so it must be handled with care.

Chinese

Tall dense shrubs up to 20 m in length, found on Far East. Some varieties are monoecious. The crown is wide, spreading, irregular in shape. The needles are short, soft, in the form of dense scales about 3 mm in length. The reddish bark of the Chinese juniper tends to flake off and fall off in thin strips.

Coastal

A dwarf shrub no higher than 40–70 cm with needle-like needles about 1 cm in length. The bark is reddish in color. The shoots are long and creeping. The coastal species is a slow-growing species. The growth of the bushes increases by only 2–3 cm per year. The fruits are blue cones with a pale bluish bloom. This juniper is valued for decorative qualities. The light green needles have grayish-blue stripes, giving the crown a beautiful sheen.

Rocky

Plants with an original narrow diamond-shaped crown, reminiscent of tall columns. The growth of this juniper can be up to 12 m. The trunks are straight and thin. Side shoots directed almost vertically upward. Needles in the form of thin short scales of bluish-gray, dark green and olive color. Individual needles are needle-shaped and long. This type is popular with landscape designers.

Scaly

Low shrub up to 1.5 m tall. The bark is grey-brown. The crown is dark green and dense. The needles are in the form of wide, lanceolate-shaped scales, very dense and hard, about 1 cm in length. Dead leaves do not leave the branches for a long time, giving them a dried-out appearance. The berries are shiny, almost black.

Application

Due to its decorative qualities, it is actively used for landscaping urban landscapes, gardens, and parks. Extensive plantings are especially suitable for areas with polluted and dusty air. Plant needles cleanse the urban atmosphere well.

A powerful branched root system makes these rocks useful for strengthening the slopes of ravines. The wealth of varieties allows for the implementation of exquisite design solutions. Juniper bushes create a magnificent ensemble with other garden plants, are used as hedges. Bonsai varieties grow well indoors.

Almost all parts of the plant are useful.

Juniper wood has a high density: about 640 kg/cub.m. in dried form. The sapwood of the logs is narrow and yellowish in color. The core occupies most of the mass, grayish or light brown in color, and harder. Tree rings are expressed with a greenish or red-brown dark pattern. The resin ducts are not visible, the medullary rays are invisible. The texture of the wood is very beautiful, the layers of fibers have a striped or wavy structure with contrasting lines. This timber lends itself well to manual and mechanical processing, has high performance properties, does not crack for a long time, does not swell from moisture, and is resistant to fungal infection .

Juniper wood is used to make barrels for canned fruit, kvass mugs and kitchen utensils. Brackets, pencils, and hooks for hanging meat hams are made from it. Butter, milk and other perishable products for a long time kept fresh in juniper containers.

Tree resin is used industrially to make paints, varnishes and turpentine. The needles produce an essential oil used in aromatherapy and as an antiseptic for colds.

Juniper berries in most species, with rare exceptions, are edible. They contain many vitamins, anthocyanins, antioxidants, sugars, and beneficial bitterness. They are used as a spice for meat and vegetable dishes, and marinades, giving foods an unusual flavor. Juniper fruit jam is not only a dessert, but also a medicinal remedy. Syrup, tea and decoction are used to get rid of pulmonary diseases and genitourinary infections. The active substances of the berries relieve symptoms of fever, rheumatism and arthritis, have an anti-inflammatory effect, remove toxins from the body, and support the functioning of the cardiovascular system. The juice of the berries contains a lot of inulin, which is necessary for patients with diabetes.

Landing

Germinating juniper from seeds takes from 1 to 3 years; this method is of little use for planting in home areas and gardens. If desired, you can sow the seedlings in containers with soil, place them in a lighted place and regularly water the substrate. Planting shoots in open ground produced in the fourth year. This should be done in the spring, in April or May. In autumn, seedlings may be damaged by wind and frost. Fruiting of independently sprouted shrubs is possible after 7–10 years.

Purchasing seedlings from nurseries or cuttings allows you to quickly acquire beautiful, useful plants.

It is advisable to choose a sunny place for juniper, especially decorative varieties. Lack of light can only be tolerated well common appearance. Any soil will do. When planting, you need to calculate the distance between seedlings in advance: for large wide species it should be at least 1.5 m, compact ones can be placed every 50–70 cm.

The size of the pits for juniper is twice the volume of the roots. The bottom is filled ¼ with drainage: small stones or crushed bricks; a layer of a mixture of peat, soil and nitroammophosphorus fertilizer is placed on top. You need to give the holes rest for 2 weeks. After placing the seedlings, the holes are filled with soil. The neck of the root should be at surface level. Each tree is watered, and then the surrounding areas of soil are mulched with sawdust.

Juniper cuttings are harvested in the spring by cutting annual shoots 15–20 cm long. They are dropped in the peat-sand mixture and left in dark place before rooting, moisturizing regularly. After 1–2 years, the cuttings are transplanted from the container into open ground.

Creeping varieties are propagated by layering. To do this, make a small incision on the selected shoot and pin it to the ground, lightly sprinkling it. On next year the shoot takes root, it is separated and planted in the chosen place.

Plant care

Caring for these plants is easy. In the first years and during dry periods, it is recommended to pour 10 liters of water under the roots every 3 weeks. Before this, you need to loosen the soil around it. In poor soil, fertilizers must be applied before each watering; additional feeding is required once a season. In hot weather in the evenings it is useful to spray the needles.

Large varieties can be pruned regularly to shape the branches into the desired shape. But there are no fast-growing species among junipers, so it is not worth cutting off large volumes of the crown. Typically, pruning is used when creating hedges, and single shrubs are left in their natural appearance.

Prevention of juniper diseases is carried out in spring and autumn by spraying the shoots with a solution of Bordeaux mixture.

Hello, my name is Valeria, I am engaged in landscape design. One of my favorite plants is juniper. This plant is very plastic, it is easy to shape, and the variety of species and varieties allows you to find a texture for any garden. Today I will talk specifically about the types and varieties of this plant.

This plant can be either an elegant bush or a spreading tree. The most popular varieties can be divided into several categories:

• The species are frost-resistant;
• Cossack junipers;
• Chinese junipers;
• Horizontal;
• Scaly.

Frost-resistant junipers

There are several categories here too. I'll tell you about the most common ones.

Common junipers

These can be both trees and shrubs. Their shape can be varied, height - within 12 meters. The needles are lanceolate and narrow, up to 14 mm long. The cones are black and have a bluish coating. Resistant to both poor ecology and any frost. Grows even in the poorest soils. About a hundred varieties are known, but the most popular are:

1. Suecica. Shrubs with a maximum height of 4 meters. The bushes are dense and column-shaped. The shoots are vertical, the needles are light. Grows best in areas with good lighting;
2. Green Carpet. The shrubs are low, reaching only half a meter in height and one and a half meters in width. Often used as ground cover plants. Suitable for rocky gardens and slopes. The needles are small and soft;
3. Hibernika. The tree is columnar in shape, up to three and a half meters high. Suitable for any soil. It is best to tie up trees before winter, otherwise they may break under the snow. Don't forget to protect from the sun in spring;
4. Gold Cone. A tree reaching a height of approximately 4 meters. It has a conical shape. The crown can reach a meter in width. The peculiarity is that its shoots can change their color throughout the year. It is frost-resistant and survivable on any soil. The only thing it does not tolerate is too wet soil. In addition, it is better to plant it in well-lit areas.

Rock junipers

They are also frost-resistant. They can grow up to 10 meters in height. Suitable for hedges and coniferous compositions. Ideal for hot areas, they tolerate any adverse factors well. The two most popular varieties are:

• Blue Arrow. These are trees up to 5 meters high. The shoots are tough, the needles are blue, not prickly. It is unpretentious and resistant to frost. Loves light and well-drained soil;
• Skyrocket. It has the shape of a column, the crown is dense. Height up to 8 meters, crown has a width of about a meter. Loves soils where water does not stagnate, and loamy ones. Also loves light. Resistant to frost, drought and wind, but it is better to tie its branches before winter.

Virginia

This is the most unpretentious of the frost-resistant junipers. Resistant to rotting, grows on mountain slopes and river banks. Tolerates frosts, droughts, and even shade. The most popular varieties are:

• Blue Cloud. Quite a miniature shrub. The needles are small and gray, the branches are long;
• Glauca. It has the shape of a column, height up to 5 meters. The needles are silvery, the branches are thick;
• Ganaertii. Quite a tall tree with dark needles;
• Burkii. It grows quickly, reaches 6 meters, the needles are not prickly, and have a delicate greenish-blue color;
• Pendula. One of the highest representatives. Can reach 15 meters. The tree is spreading, the needles are bluish in color;
• Gray Owl. A low (up to one and a half meters) shrub with a wide crown and hanging branches. The needles are gray-silver. Normal to pruning;
• Hetz. It grows equally quickly in both height and width. Suitable for large parks and gardens.

Medium junipers

They are also frost-resistant and come in a wide variety of colors and shapes. The most popular:

• Low and spreading Pfitzeriana Aurea;
• Gold Star with golden scales. It grows more actively in width than in length;
• Hetzii. The needles are gray-blue;
• Old Gold. Known for the golden color of its needles. It grows slowly and has miniature sizes;
• Gold coast. It grows in width more actively than in height;

• Mint julep. Different bright color needles and the curved shape of the branches.

Cossack

They are also winter hardy. Usually creep along the ground. Suitable for strengthening slopes. They are not very picky about soil, they tolerate drought well, but they love light. They grow in European forests and Asia. There are many varieties and they differ greatly in appearance and size.

• Tamariscifolia. The height is only half a meter, it is actively growing in width. The needles change color when different quantities Sveta;
• Glauca. Also low and with a wide, pillow-shaped crown.
• Arcadia. Low bushes that grow up to 2.5 meters wide and cover a large area. With age it becomes like a carpet. The needles are soft, pale green.

Chinese

They grow throughout Asia. Suitable for creating bonsai and for small plots. They grow slowly, but sometimes reach 20 meters. Ideal for moist and fertile soils, but quite tolerant of droughts.

• Variegata. Pyramidal with a fairly wide crown.
  Loves well-drained and moist soil, it is better to hide it from the sun in early spring;
• Kuriwao Gold. The peculiarity is that the needles turn pale in the shade, so plant it in the sun. Good for rocky garden and gardens with different types conifers;
• Blue Alps. It has a dense crown and shoots hanging down at the edges. Can reach 2 meters in both height and width. Suitable for any soil, but it needs more light;
• Blaauw. It has asymmetrical shoots. The width and height are the same - about one and a half meters. Light partial shade is comfortable for them. But the soil needs nutrition, the reaction is either neutral or slightly alkaline.

Horizontal

Originally from North America. Used as ground cover plants.

• Limeglow. Miniature creeping shrub: height about 0.4 meters and one and a half meters wide. The needles are bright yellow with golden tint. It can be used in a variety of gardens as an accent, but it does not tolerate heavy soils, and also loves bright light in the area.
• Blue Forest is the smallest - about 30 cm high and one and a half meters wide. The crown is creeping, but the shoots are vertical, so it looks like a tiny forest. The color is blue, most expressive in the month of July;
• Blue Chip. A beautiful creeping bush. The shoots are horizontal and spread in different directions. Their ends are slightly raised. The color is silvery blue, but turns purple in winter. Externally it resembles a carpet;
• Andorra Variegata. Also a dwarf variety. The needles are bright green, but there are also lighter inclusions. In winter it turns violet-purple.

Scaly

They are not too demanding of either soil or air. Native to the Eastern Himalayas and China.

Here are the most popular of their varieties.

• Meyeri. The height of the bush is about a meter. The shoots are arranged obliquely, their ends hang down. The needles are thick, needle-shaped and rather short. Its color is silver-blue. If you trim this bush regularly, you will get a beautiful, dense and openwork shape.
• Blue Star. This is a dwarf shrub and grows quite slowly. Its height is up to a meter, width - up to 150 cm. It is best to plant on rocky hills, slopes and borders.
• Blue Carpet. Refers to fast-growing shrubs. The needles are quite prickly and silver-blue in color. The cone berries are dark blue in color and have a waxy coating. It is best to strengthen slopes and slopes with it.

Juniper is a beautiful, drought-resistant, light-loving, long-lived plant. More than seventy species are known. Many interesting varieties have been developed - juniper is grown both in the middle zone and in cold regions.

Juniper: types and varieties

The most famous are the following species and varieties.

Common juniper - this species is highly frost-resistant. It is not picky about soil composition. The berries take 2 years to ripen.

Medium juniper stands out from other shrubs with its outstretched crown shape. The plant is relatively winter-hardy - it needs shelter only in the first years of life.

Juniperus virginiana can reach a height of 30 m. The plant prefers a dry steppe climate.

Horizontal juniper is characterized by excellent adaptability - it feels good in both hot and cold climate zones.

Daurian juniper is extremely unpretentious - it grows equally well both in the southeast of Siberia and in warm regions.

Cossack juniper is a prostrate or creeping bush. The plant is characterized by excellent winter hardiness. It is not afraid of droughts either.

Chinese juniper is interesting for its decorative properties - even in nature, plants of the same species differ from each other in external characteristics. This allowed breeders to develop many interesting varieties.

Juniperus recumbent is grown as ground cover plant- creeping shrub reaches half a meter in height.

Siberian juniper prefers mountain landscapes. It grows slowly, but pleases with its beauty, and is not afraid of frost and drought.

Rock juniper is very decorative - even in natural conditions the plant has a beautiful crown. The color of the needles is also interesting - it has a bluish tint. The plant grows slowly, but has a long life expectancy.

Scaly juniper attracts attention with its beautiful needles - they are painted in a steel-gray color.

Rocky junipers: varieties

This type of juniper is represented by the following varieties: Blue Arrow, Globe, Repens, Pathfinder, Skyrocket, Silver King, Wichita.

Blue Haven juniper is a slow growing plant. Its maximum height is 2.5 m. The plant has a dense conical crown. The needles are colored light blue color. The variety does not place high demands on the soil.

Common juniper: varieties

Common juniper is represented by the following varieties: B 2, Columnaris, Сompressa, Echiniformis, Gold beach, Gold Cone, Green Carpet, Нibernica, Нornibrookii, Меуер, Оblonga pendula, Repanda.

The Green Carpet variety is a low juniper (even at the age of ten the plant reaches only 10 cm in height). This variety is ideal for lawns - the plants do not require cutting or special care.

Varieties of Chinese juniper

This type of plant is represented by the following varieties: Blue Alps, Columnaris, Columnaris glauca, Echiniformis, Expansa, Globosa, Hetzii, Mint Julep, Old Gold, Pfitzeriana.

Kurovavo Gold is a variety famous for its beauty. The plant forms a spherical crown. Its maximum height is 2 m. The needles differ in color - young ones have an emerald tint, and old ones are dark green.

Juniper horizontal: varieties

Creeping juniper (horizontal) is represented by the following varieties: Adpressa, Alpina, Andorra compact, Argentea, Glacier, Glenmore, Petraea, Prostrata, Wiltonii.

Andorra Compact - this variety is interesting in the shape of its crown (it resembles a lush pillow). In winter, the needles change color and become purple-violet.

Tall junipers: varieties

Tall junipers are represented by different species. Accordingly, you can select quite a lot of varieties with optimal visual characteristics. Most interesting varieties: Skyrocket, Glauka, Gray Ole (Virginian juniper), Hibernica, Columnaris (common juniper).

Fast-growing junipers: varieties

Good growth rates are characteristic of the following varieties: Blue carpet ( scaly juniper), Tamariscifolia and Mas (Cossack juniper), Pfitzeriana Aurea, Mordigan Gold, Pfitzeriana compacta (medium juniper). Juniperus virginiana also grows quickly.

Mordigan Gold is an elegant, compact, frost and drought resistant variety. The needles have a golden hue. The height of the plants reaches a meter, the diameter of the crown does not exceed two meters. This juniper tolerates urban conditions well.

Edible juniper: varieties

Juniper fruits are not eaten like ordinary berries, but they are used in the preparation of tinctures, marmalades, kvass, jellies, jelly, and beer. The aroma of juniper makes smoked meat especially tasty. Cossack juniper is poisonous. Fruits of other types can be used. Most Applications they find the fruits of the Caucasian juniper.

Cossack juniper: varieties

Cossack juniper is represented by the varieties Arcaida, Blue danube, Buffalo, Supressifolia, Erecta, Fastigiata, Mas, Rockery Gem, Tamariscifolia.

Variegata is a variety with brightly variegated needles (they are colored green-white or yellowish). This juniper grows slowly and forms a creeping crown. The greatest height is 1 m. The plant is quite demanding on the composition of the soil. It does not tolerate frost and drought well.

Juniper: varieties for the Moscow region

Many types of juniper are grown in the Moscow region and central Russia. The most common junipers are common, horizontal, rocky, and Cossack.

Plants of the Skyrocket variety look very beautiful. They have a columnar shape. The scaly or needle-shaped needles are colored blue-gray. The height of the plant reaches 6-8 m. Unlike many other types of juniper, this variety grows very quickly - annual growth is about 20 cm.

Juniper varieties for Siberia

Many junipers are characterized by good frost resistance, which allows them to be grown in harsh conditions. climatic conditions. The most widespread junipers in Siberia and the Urals are Siberian, Cossack, hard, Chinese, Virginia, common, and scaly.

The Blue Alps variety (Chinese juniper) has excellent recommendations. The plant tolerates frost well and has a compact shape. Its average height is 2.5-4 m. The needle-shaped needles below are painted silver, and on top they are light green.

There are many varieties of juniper. Plants are actively used for landscaping areas - they are very decorative, therefore they are in great demand.

©
When copying site materials, keep an active link to the source.

The genus Juniper has 71 species. 12 of them grow in wild plantings on the territory of Russia and neighboring countries:

The remaining varieties of juniper are not found in natural plantings, but due to their decorative qualities they are actively cultivated for landscaping. personal plots and creation of landscape compositions.

Forest juniper

Common juniper (Juniperus communis) is often called forest juniper. This dioecious (less often monoecious) plant is found mainly in Europe, Asia, North America - countries of the Northern Hemisphere with a temperate climate. This type is also common in North Africa, Pakistan and Nepal. On the territory of Russia, forest juniper grows in Western Siberia (sometimes found in Eastern Siberia). It grows mainly on dry hills, limestone, along river banks and in pine forest undergrowth, as well as in mixed forests. Quite rarely, this type of juniper, photos of which are presented on this page, settles in swamps. Prefers sandy soils; excess moisture is contraindicated for these plants.

Forest juniper, the average size of which reaches 3 m in height, has an ovoid or cone-shaped crown. In males the crown is narrow, in females it is wide and spread out. The bark is grayish-brown or dark gray, flaky. The shoots mainly have a red-brown tint. The triangular, pointed leaves are arranged in a ring shape, reaching 1-1.5 cm in length, with a whitish strip running through the middle of the leaf. The male cones of Juniperus communis are yellowish in color and almost sessile. Female cones are pale green and become black and blue with a blue tinge when ripe. Cone berries ripen in the second or third year and have 1-2 conical, yellow-brown seeds.

Juniperus pyramidalis

One of the cultural forms is pyramidal juniper. The branches of these trees with a narrow crown start almost from the ground and are tightly pressed to the trunk. The needles are short, soft, dark green. The plants resemble cypress trees in appearance and have a wide decorative use. Juniper pyramidal, like most plants of this species, is light-loving and easily tolerates slight shading. It is very undemanding to soil fertility and grows well on limestone and sandstone. It is quite frost-resistant and tolerates molding well. Looks great both in single and group plantings.

Used as an ornamental garden plant. Thanks to its extended root system, it holds the soil well, so it is used as protection for slopes. The wood of the plants is reddish, has a pleasant smell, but has no industrial value. Due to the small size of the trees, the wood is used only for making canes, small parts and toys. Dry distillation produces juniper oil, the resin is used to make white varnish. Forest juniper cones are used in brewing and the alcoholic beverage industry (in the production of gin and juniper vodka). The fruits of this plant are also included in many spicy mixtures for making sauces and sweets.

Rock juniper

One of the rare species is rock juniper (Juniperus scopulorum). This is a medium-sized dioecious shrub or tree, reaching 5 m in height with a trunk diameter of up to 1 m. The irregularly spherical crown begins almost from the very base, tetrahedral young shoots have a bluish-green color. The leaves of rock juniper are ovate-rhombic, scale-like, with a blunt tip. Dark blue, with a bluish coating, the cones reach 4-6 mm in diameter and ripen at the end of the second year. Inside the cone berries are two reddish-brown, ribbed seeds.

Juniperus scopulorum should be planted in light, wind-protected areas. The annual growth is up to 12 cm. In the shade, the crown of rock juniper becomes bare, and the tree loses its decorative qualities. The cold resistance of this species is low; in snowy winters, tree branches can break off. This species grows especially well in areas where annual quantity precipitation is 150-200 mm. It has cultivars with a pyramidal crown and blue needles.

Red juniper

Red or prickly juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus) is a dioecious plant reaching 5-10 m in height. The crown is ovoid-cone-shaped, sometimes umbrella-shaped in old trees, reaching 1 m in diameter. The bark is smooth, light gray; young shoots have reddish or yellowish-brown bark. The branches are straight, triangular, widely spread. Leaves with two longitudinal stripes reach 20 mm in length and a width of 1.5-2 mm. The fruits are solitary, spherical, tightly seated on the branches, ranging in size from 5 to 12 mm, of a bright red-brown color. There are usually 2-3 seeds in a cone; they have a triangular, ovoid shape.

The distribution area of ​​red juniper is the entire territory of the Mediterranean, the northern border reaches the south of France. Often found in the Crimea and Transcaucasia, under natural conditions it grows at an altitude of up to 300-400 m, often on cliffs and rocky slopes. Plants of this species are heat-loving and drought-resistant. Their wood is very durable, heavy, reddish in color with white sapwood, very resistant to rotting, and therefore is widely used as a building and ornamental material.

Red juniper fruits contain 1.5% essential oil and are an excellent diuretic. Dry distillation produces juniper oil, which is used as a medicinal preparation for skin diseases, in the production of certain cosmetics, and as an anthelmintic.

Crimean juniper

The varieties common in the Crimea are called Crimean junipers. These relict plants are extremely popular among tourists, because about them medicinal properties known since ancient times.

The needles and berries of juniper trees contain essential oils with a tart aroma that have a detrimental effect on pathogens. One hectare of juniper plantings releases up to 30 kg of phytoncides per day, which are destructive to bacteria. Once in the bronchi and lungs, phytoncides have an anti-inflammatory effect; staying in such forests is very useful for asthmatics and people with chronic bronchitis. These trees purify the air five times more efficiently than Crimean pines.

There are especially many juniper forests in the mountains of Bakhchisarai. While inhaling the aroma of these trees, work normalizes. nervous system, stress arousal decreases, mood improves, headaches subside, blood pressure stabilizes, shortness of breath decreases, sleep normalizes and overall immunity strengthens. It has been noticed that after a walk through the juniper grove, appetite increases, and tea with the berries of this plant improves digestion and enhances kidney function.

Blue Juniper

Many trees and shrubs of this species have bluish needles, which is why they are sometimes called blue junipers. For efficient cultivation For these plants, a number of conditions must be met.

Blue juniper grows vigorously in well-lit areas, but does not tolerate prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.

Trees with bluish needles are quite frost-resistant and prefer fertile, well-drained soil. When replanting plants, the fate that follows is that the root system blue juniper It is very intertwined, so care must be taken not to damage the small roots. This type does not tolerate dry air well, requires regular spraying of the crown and moistening the soil. Dry branches should be trimmed with pruning shears.

Juniper creeping

Creeping juniper, a small form widespread in Ireland, is often used in ornamental plantings. These low-growing plants reach up to 50 cm in height, the crown diameter does not exceed 2 m. The needles of creeping juniper are very thick and prickly. The needles are usually light green, with silvery-white stripes.

Creeping juniper prefers light, well-drained soils and can grow on rocky surfaces. Quite drought-resistant, frost-resistant, light-loving, and tolerates light shading. These plants should be planted in open areas, 3 bushes per 1 m2. The needles of creeping species cannot tolerate air pollution and dust, so it is necessary to resort to systematic spraying.

Columnar juniper with straight crown

Columnar juniper got its name because of the strict, straight shape of the crown.

These tall trees are widely used to create hedges.

Unlike creeping varieties, columnar plants are not too susceptible to the harmful effects of air pollution, and therefore are suitable for growing in urban environments.

They grow most actively in open, sunny places and tolerate light partial shade.

Quite drought-resistant and does not tolerate stagnant moisture. In winter, it is advisable to tie the crown of columnar junipers so that the branches do not break under a layer of snow.

Evergreen junipers, which naturally spread from the polar regions to the subtropics, are recognized not only as one of the most ancient plants, but also as the most valuable crops for landscaping. Having studied common junipers, types and varieties with photos, descriptions and features, you can transform and summer cottage plot, and extensive gardening areas.

All existing varieties these plants have:

• creeping, shrubby or tree-like form;
• scaly or needle-like leaves;
• fruits in the form of small dense cones with closed scales.

Thanks to the highest degree of adaptability, junipers were able to survive the climatic disasters of the past and settle in various natural zones. This property, as well as its exotic beauty, attracted attention to plants that have become indispensable in the design of rocky corners, rock gardens, and borders.

Common juniper (J. communis)

One of the most common types of juniper is found in Europe, northern Africa, Asia and even on the lands of the North American continent.

The common juniper shown in the photo has the form of a bush or small tree. IN favorable conditions a plant with dense, consisting of branches covered with needle-shaped leaves up to 15 mm long, reaches a height of 3–8 meters. Sometimes junipers, divided into female and male specimens, grow up to 12 meters.

The common juniper, like all its relatives, is a long-lived and slow-growing crop. It is not uncommon for specimens to live to be a hundred years old or older. older than age. Moreover, the beauty of the plant is better revealed when high humidity soil and air.

The crown, resembling a pyramid or cone, thanks to its hard, prickly needles, remains decorative throughout the year and can withstand pruning without problems, which is important when growing juniper as a decorative culture. And the leaves themselves live for about 4 years and are gradually replaced.

The bluish-blue cones of the plant ripen only in the second year.

On the site common juniper, in the photo, has an unpretentious character, high frost resistance and undemanding nutrition. The popularity of this plant is added by the presence of many varieties with traditional green, gray-silver or golden foliage, with a pyramidal, conical or squat flattened crown.

Photos of juniper varieties of this species are striking in their diversity, and their agricultural technology is accessible even to beginners.

Juniper Depressa is a cultivated variety of the plant found in Canada. According to various sources, this species is considered independent, Canadian, or is recognized as a subspecies of common juniper. It is distinguished from the usual form by a wide, drooping or prostrate crown and a height not exceeding one and a half meters.

The needle-like leaves of the plant have a brownish color, which becomes almost bronze by winter, increasing the decorative value of the evergreen plant.

Juniper Depressa Aurea is close in appearance to the variety described above, but its hedgehog foliage is more attractive. Young shoots of the plant have a bright light green, almost yellow or golden color, which gives the name to the juniper variety of the species Juniperus communis shown in the photo.

Siberian juniper (J. sibirica)

This type of juniper was named after Siberia, where plants with small needles and a squat crown can be found in mountainous areas. In addition to the Siberian region, the culture is widespread in the northern regions of Europe, the Far East, Crimea, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Everywhere, Siberian juniper plants prefer to settle in dry rocky areas

TO characteristic features Siberian juniper can be attributed to: short stature, slow pace of development and decorative, needle-like foliage thanks to light stripes, living for about 2 years. The round, bluish berries ripen in the second year after formation.

IN wildlife due to slow growth and small sizes Siberian juniper needs protection. The plant is more comfortable in the garden even with minimal care. Undemanding look:

• survives dry periods without loss;
• is content with low-nutrient soils;
• not afraid of frost;
• takes root in areas where there is a risk of increased gas and air pollution;
• loves light and does not need shading.

Over time, trailing juniper shoots can take root, causing the crowns to grow and create living borders. The Siberian variety is ideal for decorating slides.

Cossack juniper (J. sabina)

Another common type of juniper is interesting for the gardener because, in addition to endurance, it has two varieties of needles. The first, needle-shaped foliage up to 6 mm long, can be seen on young shoots, as well as on branches located in the shade. The second, scaly type of foliage is the needles on adult branches.

On average, the foliage with its rich, resinous aroma characteristic of juniper lives for three years. Round or oval dense berries ripen in the second year.

Compared to the common juniper, the Cossack juniper shown in the photo is not so tall and noticeable. The height of the creeping shrub with a dense, squat crown is about one and a half meters. But this did not stop juniper from being appreciated and used to decorate parks and formal gardens from the end of the 16th century.

Thanks to the breeding of varieties with dark green, gray and light needles, an undemanding, winter-hardy and drought-tolerant plant will be indispensable on the hills. It is used to secure slopes and create living borders that hold their shape well.

Chinese juniper (J. chinensis)

Among all the junipers, this plant from the Cypress family stands out for its impressive size. The crown of a native of China, Korea and Manchuria grows to a height of 25 meters. Chinese juniper, in the photo, has needle-like needles on young shoots, which, as the thin branches mature, are replaced by small scaly foliage. Small cones of the plant can be colored bluish, brown or black, and covered with a bluish coating.

The first specimens of Chinese juniper appeared in Europe at the beginning of the 19th century. In Russia, these plants were planted a little later on the Black Sea coast, where they are still found today. But unlike other species, Chinese variety needs moist soil and air more, so it often suffers from drought. The frost resistance limit of the crop is −30 °C. Therefore, in the middle zone without shelter, plants can freeze out.

It is interesting that despite the large size of adult specimens, Chinese juniper, as in the photo, is often used for.

Juniper (J. procumbens)

In Japan and other countries in the region, recumbent juniper is found with a creeping or drooping crown, covered with green or, more often, bluish-blue needles.

Plants with a height of 50 to 400 cm are adapted to a humid maritime climate, so in the Russian central zone they can suffer in dry air, as well as from frost in particularly harsh winters.

In its homeland, juniper of this species is one of the favorite plants for creating spectacular ones.

Juniperus rigida (J. rigida)

Many Far Eastern junipers are now actively used in garden and park plantings. Hard juniper - the indigenous inhabitant of this fertile region chooses coastal sandy slopes and shores as habitats. Plants settle on windy clones under the cover of larger trees. Here, junipers take on a creeping form and, at a height of up to 40 cm, thanks to two-meter shoots, form dense, difficult-to-pass groups.

In favorable conditions, hard juniper reaches a height of 8 meters. The crown, covered with yellow-green prickly needles, is dense in male specimens, while female plants are more transparent.

A very unpretentious species of juniper is not often found in cultivation. At the same time, the plant can be interesting for park landscaping and creating authentic, oriental corners in small areas.

When growing durum juniper, you need to take into account that on acidic soils the plant feels depressed and loses its decorative effect due to its already low growth rate.

Prostrate juniper (J. horizontalis)

The name of this species speaks volumes about appearance And characteristic feature plants. Prostrate juniper has a squat, even creeping crown with a height of 10 to 30 cm. The plant is native to Canada, where it prefers to settle on sandy slopes, on the shores of lakes or in mountainous areas, also called. Although the species is frost-resistant, not picky when choosing soil and perfectly strengthens the slopes, when planting it you need to take into account that in drought conditions the juniper feels depressed, its needles lose their brightness and tone.

In ornamental gardening, horizontal juniper is valued for its needles with two light, almost white stripes. Based on the wild form, more than a hundred cultivated varieties have been created today, differing in foliage color and crown shape.

Juniper medium (J. x media)

At breeding work with junipers, it was found that certain species can produce stable hybrids that are interesting to gardeners. An example of such successful hybridization is the medium juniper, obtained from crossing the Cossack and spherical varieties (J. sphaerica). The first specimens of this species were grown in late XIX in Germany, and then spread throughout Europe and throughout the world.

Evergreen plants of medium juniper, as in the photo, can have a creeping, prostrate or wide spreading crown. Depending on the variety, plants of this species grow up to 3–5 meters. The needles are scaly and needle-shaped and are colored in green and bluish tones. There are varieties with a golden crown.

Although the plants are winter-hardy, there is a risk of freezing. Therefore, in the middle zone and to the north, junipers are covered for the winter months, which is not difficult given the squat, relatively small crown of the plant.

Rock juniper (J. scopulorum)

The North American continent has given the world many shrubs. In the Rocky Mountains, famous for their rugged beauty, the rock juniper shown in the photo was discovered.

This form is distinguished by its pyramidal shape and scaly needles, which, depending on the variety, can be rich green or gray, almost blue. Slim evergreen in the first half of the 19th century it was grown in parks and greenhouses. During this time, more than 20 cultivated varieties were obtained. With minimal care and protection in severe frosts, adult plants easily maintain a pyramidal shape and slowly develop, reaching a height of 12 meters.

Virginia juniper (J. virginiana)

Red cedar or Virginia juniper is an indigenous inhabitant of the north of the American continent. The plant owes its unusual nickname to its record growth for junipers. Adult specimens of this species are powerful trees up to 30 meters high with trunks whose diameter reaches one and a half meters.

The large tree-like form is not the only difference between the species. Juniperus virginiana, in the photo, has fairly rapid growth. This circumstance was immediately appreciated by the Americans, who began cultivating the crop in the middle of the 17th century.

The plant has small needles of a mixed type and the same medium-sized cones, which ripen the same year after formation. In Russia, this species is suitable for cultivation in the southern regions; in its homeland, the wood is used to make stationery pencils and obtain essential oil. For ornamental gardening, many compact varieties and interspecific hybrids with silver, bluish and light needles have been bred.

Scaly juniper (J. squamata)

China, Taiwan and the Himalayas are the habitat of another species of juniper with a dense, decorative crown up to one and a half meters high.

This is the scaly juniper shown in the photo, which easily tolerates dry air and poor soil, but is not winter-hardy enough for middle zone Russia.

Dahurian juniper (J. davurica)

The Russian Far East, the northern regions of China and Mongolia are the birthplace of another decorative look juniper, distinguished not only by its creeping shape and slow growth rate, but also by its long life.

Daurian juniper plants can grow and develop for more than a hundred years, while their shoots in diameter do not exceed five centimeters.

The species, described at the end of the 18th century, is called stone heather by indigenous people due to its hard wood, ability to settle on poor soils, including rocky heaps, and compact size.

The above-ground part of the juniper does not exceed 50 cm in height; the trunk is often hidden in the ground, which helps the shoots take root and makes the plant very valuable for strengthening steep slopes, hills and embankments. Light green needles take on a brownish-brown hue by winter. Ripe spherical cones have the same color. Daurian juniper is decorative, unpretentious and extremely winter-hardy.

Video about the types and varieties of juniper in the country