Juniperus communis
| Juniperus communis | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 2 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen Cross Pollinated | |
| Height: | 30' |
| Width: | 13' |
| Speed: | Slow |
| Blooms: | Late Spring-Early Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Juniperus communis (common name: juniper)
Propagation: The seed requires a period of cold stratification. The seed has a hard seedcoat and can be very slow to germinate, requiring a cold period followed by a warm period and then another cold spell, each of 2 - 3 months duration[1][2]. Soaking the seed for 3 - 6 seconds in boiling water may speed up the germination process[3]. The seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Some might germinate in the following spring, though most will take another year. Another possibility is to harvest the seed 'green' (when the embryo has fully formed but before the seedcoat has hardened). The seedlings can be potted up into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Grow on in pots until large enough, then plant out in early summer. When stored dry, the seed can remain viable for several years[4].
Cuttings of mature wood, 5 - 10cm with a heel, September/October in a cold frame. Plant out in the following autumn[4][1].
Layering in September/October. Takes 12 months[1].
Cultivation: An easily grown plant, it succeeds in hot dry soils and in poor soils. Succeeds in most soils so long as they are well drained[5], preferring a neutral or slightly alkaline soil. Does well in chalky soils[4]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Tolerates a pH range from 4 to 8[5]. Succeeds in light woodland but dislikes heavy shade[5]. Established plants are very tolerant of drought[5].
Although the fully dormant plant is cold-tolerant throughout Britain, the young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts.
All parts of the plant are very aromatic[6].
Juniper is a very polymorphic species that has a long history of culinary and medicinal use[7]. It is frequently grown in the ornamental and herb garden, there is a huge range of cultivars of widely diverse habits[3][2]. At least some forms tolerate maritime exposure[5], there is a thriving colony in an exposed position at Land's End in Cornwall[2].
The fruits take 2 - 3 years to ripen on the plant[3].
Plants are usually very slow growing, often only a few centimetres a year[5].
Resists honey fungus[8]. Plants are sometimes attacked by a rust, this fungus has an aecidial stage on hawthorn (Crataegus spp.)[4].
Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.
Range: Northern temperate zone, incl Britain, south to the mountains of N. Africa, Himalayas and California
Habitat: Chalk downs in S. England but only where there is least sunshine and most rain, heaths, moors, pine and birch woods in the north of Scotland on acid peat, often dominant on chalk, limestone and slate.
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked[9][10][11][12]. It is usually harvested in the autumn when fully ripe and then dried for later use[13]. A soft, mealy, sweet, resinous flesh[14]. The fruit is often used as a flavouring in sauerkraut, stuffings, vegetable pates etc, and is an essential ingredient of gin[15]. The aromatic fruit is used as a pepper substitute according to one report[15]. An essential oil is sometimes distilled from the fruit to be used as a flavouring[15]. Average yields are around 1%[16]. The cones are about 4 - 8mm in diameter and take 2 - 3 years to mature[14][17]. Some caution is advised when using the fruit, see the notes above on toxicity.
The roasted seed is a coffee substitute[18].
A tea is made by boiling the leaves and stems[19]. A tea made from the berries has a spicy gin-like flavour[15].
Medicinal: Juniper fruits are commonly used in herbal medicine, as a household remedy, and also in some commercial preparations. They are especially useful in the treatment of digestive disorders plus kidney and bladder problems[20].
The fully ripe fruits are strongly antiseptic, aromatic, carminative, diaphoretic, strongly diuretic, rubefacient, stomachic and tonic[20][16][11][21][22][23][24][25]. They are used in the treatment of cystitis, digestive problems, chronic arthritis, gout and rheumatic conditions[25]. They can be eaten raw or used in a tea[26], but some caution is advised since large doses can irritate the urinary passage[20]. Externally, it is applied as a diluted essential oil, having a slightly warming effect upon the skin and is thought to promote the removal of waste products from underlying tissues[25]. It is, therefore, helpful when applied to arthritic joints etc[25]. The fruits should not be used internally by pregnant women since this can cause an abortion[11]. The fruits also increase menstrual bleeding so should not be used by women with heavy periods[25]. When made into an ointment, they are applied to exposed wounds and prevent irritation by flies[20].
The essential oil is used in aromatherapy. Its keyword is 'Toxin elimination'[27].
Usage: A decoction of the branches is used as an anti-dandruff shampoo[28].
The essential oil distilled from the fruits is used in perfumes with spicy fragrances[29].
In hot countries the tree yields the resin 'Sandarac' from incisions in the trunk[20][30]. This is used in the production of a white varnish[30].
The stems were at one time used as a strewing herb to sweeten the smell of rooms[31][7]. The whole plant can be burnt as an incense and fumigant[32][33][34]. It was used during epidemics in the belief that it would purify the air and cleanse it of infection[7]. Fresh or dried juniper branches also make a good insect repellent[33][28].
Many forms of this species are good ground cover plants for sunny situations[35]. Forms to try include 'Depressa Aurea', 'Dumosa', 'Effusa', and 'Repanda'[36]. 'Prostrata' can also be used[37].
The bark is used as cordage[38] and as a tinder[28].
Wood - strong, hard, fragrant, very durable in contact with the soil and very close-grained, but usually too small to be of much use[14][39][7][6]. It makes an excellent fuel[32].
Pollinators: Wind
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure
In Leaf: Evergreen
Seed Ripens: Mid Fall
Flower Type: Dioecious
Heavy Clay: Grows in heavy-clay soils.
Known Hazards: Although the fruit of this plant is quite often used medicinally and as a flavouring in various foods and drinks, large doses of the fruit can cause renal damage. Juniper should not be used internally in any quantities by pregnant women[40][23].
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Rushforth, Keith. Conifers. Batsford, 1991.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Beckett, Kenneth and Gillian Beckett. Planting Native Trees and Shrubs. Jarrold, 1979.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Phillips, Roger. Herbs. Pan Books, 1990.
- ↑ RHS. The Garden Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society, 1987.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Mabey, Richard. Food for Free. Collins, 1974.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Launert, Edmund. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn, 1981.
- ↑ Bryan, John and Coralie Castle. Edible Ornamental Garden. Pitman Publishing, 1976.
- ↑ Loewenfeld, Claire and Philippa Back. Britain's Wild Larder. David and Charles.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 Sargent, Charles. Manual of the Trees of North America. Dover, 1965.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Chiej, Roberto. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald, 1984.
- ↑ Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ Yanovsky, Elias. Food Plants of the North American Indians Publication 237. US Department of Agriculture.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Mills, Simon. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
- ↑ Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.
- ↑ Foster, Steven and Billy Tatum. Medicinal Plants of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin, 1990.
- ↑ Westwood, Christine. Aromatherapy - A Guide for Home Use. Amberwood Publishing, 1993.
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 Schofield, Janice. Discovering Wild Plants.
- ↑ Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 Komarov, Vladimir. Flora of the USSR. Gantner Verlag, 1968.
- ↑ Hylton, Josie and William Holtom. Complete Guide to Herbs. Rodale Press, 1979.
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 Freethy, Ron. From Agar to Zenery. The Crowood Press, 1985.
- ↑ 33.0 33.1 Kavasch, Barrie. Native Harvests. Vintage Books, 1979.
- ↑ Gamble, James. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, 1972.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Plants for Ground Cover. Everyman, 1990.
- ↑ Napier, Elspeth. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells, 1989.
- ↑ Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Elias, Thomas. The Complete Trees of North America. Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1980.
- ↑ Frohne, Dietrich and Hans Pfänder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Timber Press, 1984.