Juniperus

This group consists of evergreen shrubs and trees that are found wild throughout Europe, North America, Asia, the West Indies, Canary Islands, and eastern Africa. Some are hardy, some are small enough for the rock garden, some are good foundation plants, and some grow into trees of medium size. Junipers, as they are commonly called, are divided into two categories based on the kind of leaves they produce. The mature trees either have scale-like, leaves closely pressed against the branch, or needle-like, spreading leaves that are arranged loosely on the branch. The leaves are dark bluish-green and they stay on the branches for five or six years. The dark blue cones are small (�" diameter) and berry-like, each containing one or more hard seeds. The Junipers have other common names including Savin and Red Cedar, but the tree is really a Juniper and not a true Cedar. Junipers grow from 30 to 40 feet high with a diameter of 1 to 2 feet or more. The wood of the Junipers is fragrant and very durable. It is often used as fencing, but is of value for more important purposes. The wood of J. virginiana is sometimes called Pencil Cedar because its wood is used for making lead pencils. In the south of France, the wood of J. Oxycedrus is distilled for a medicinal oil it contains. The oil is called "Oil of cade", and it is used in the treatment of skin diseases.

Pot Cultivation

Junipers flourish on limestone land and in ordinary soil where there is little lime. Planting should be done in early spring or early fall.

Propagation

Seeds should be used whenever possible to increase your trees, however, varieties must be raised by cuttings, grafting or layers. Cuttings of the hardy kinds should be taken in late summer or fall and inserted in a propagating case in the greenhouse. The hardy kinds must be grown as strong as possible. Trees that are grown from seeds or cuttings in a greenhouse should be set in a cold frame as soon the they've formed a good root system. Young plants, especially seedlings, of Junipers that are hardy are still easily injured by cold. Protection should be provided in very cold weather until they've formed hard wood. Junipers can be moved when they are large, but it's better to set them in their permanent position before they become too ponderous.