Juniperus sabina
| Juniperus sabina | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 3 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen Cross Pollinated | |
| Height: | 13' |
| Width: | 13' |
| Speed: | Slow |
| Blooms: | Mid Spring |
| Native to: | |
| Medicinal Rating: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Juniperus sabina (common name: savine)
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: Succeeds in most soils if they are well drained, preferring a neutral or slightly alkaline soil[4][3]. Prefers a limestone soil[4]. Succeeds in poor soils and in light shade[5]. Established plants are drought tolerant, succeeding in hot dry positions[6]. Tolerates maritime exposure[6].
A very ornamental plant[4], there are many named varieties[7]. All parts of the plant have a powerful pungent smell[8].
Plants can be dioecious or monoecious. Male and female plants must be grown if fruit and seed are required.
The plant is sometimes attacked by a rust, this is a fungus with an aecidial stage on the leaves of pear trees[4]. Plants are resistant to honey fungus[9].
Range: C. and S. Europe to N. America.
Habitat: Dry stony places in mountains[10], usually on limestone[3], at elevations of 1000 - 2300 metres.
Medicinal: The young shoots are abortifacient, diuretic, emetic, powerfully emmenagogue and irritant[11][12]. The plant is rarely used internally but is useful as an ointment and dressing to blisters etc in order to promote discharge[11]. The powdered leaves are also used in the treatment of warts[4][11][12][13]. The shoots are harvested in spring and dried for later use[11]. Use with great caution and never during pregnancy[11][13], see notes above on toxicity.
Usage: Leaves are used as an insect repellent, a decoction of them is used against lice[14][15].
An essential oil from the leaves and shoots has strong diuretic properties and is also used in perfumery[4][15]. Yields of around 4% are obtained, this oil is also used as an insecticide[12].
A good dense ground cover plant, though it is slow to cover the ground[5]. The species type eventually forms a high ground cover, but there are many named forms that are lower-growing[16]. The sub-species J. sabina tamariscifolia has been particularly recommended[7]. Plants should be spaced about 1.2 metres apart each way[16].
The taller forms of this species make a good hedge[8].
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
Known Hazards: The whole plant is poisonous and can produce abortions[11].
Also Known As: Sabina vulgaris.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 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 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Napier, Elspeth. Ground Cover Plants. Cassells, 1989.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Brickell, Christopher. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Dorling Kindersley Publishers, 1990.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ RHS. The Garden Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society, 1987.
- ↑ Tutin, Tom et al.. Flora Europaea. Cambridge University Press, 1964.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Chiej, Roberto. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald, 1984.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Thomas, Graham. Plants for Ground Cover. Everyman, 1990.