Juniperus silicicola
| Juniperus silicicola | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 8 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen Cross Pollinated | |
| Height: | 66' |
| Width: | 26' |
| Speed: | Slow |
| Blooms: | Mid Spring-Late Spring |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Juniperus silicicola (common name: southern redcedar)
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] and succeeding on chalk[5]. Established plants are drought tolerant, succeeding in hot dry positions[5].
This species is only hardy in the milder areas of the country, requiring a warm sunny sheltered position[2].
A very ornamental tree, it is a slow-growing but long-lived tree in the wild[6]. Seed production is cyclic, a year of high yields being followed by some years of low yields[6].
Closely related to J. virginiana[6]. This species often hybridizes with other members of the genus.
The crushed foliage has an aroma like soap or paint[7].
Plants are resistant to honey fungus[8]. In America this tree is a host of a gall-like rust that at certain stages in its life-cycle also attacks the leaves of apple trees[9].
Plants are dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.
Range: South-eastern N. America - South Carolina to Texas.
Habitat: Low wet areas of swamps, stream and creek margins and flood-plain woodlands. Tolerating varying levels of soil moisture, it also grows in open woods and abandoned fields, usually on limestone[6].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked. A thin, sweetish resinous flesh, the cones are about 7 - 10mm in diameter and have a thin skin[10][6].
Medicinal: The leaves are analgesic, antirheumatic, diuretic and febrifuge[11]. An infusion has been used in the treatment of fevers, stiff neck, backache, headaches, low fever, coughs, colds and diarrhoea[11]. A decoction of the leaves has been used as a body rub and steam bath in the treatment of rheumatism[11].
The following reports are for the closely related J. virginiana, they probably also apply to this species.
The leaves are anthelmintic, diuretic, rubefacient and stimulant[12][11]. A decoction has been used in the treatment of coughs and colds, general weakness and as a medicine for convalescents[11].
The berries are anthelmintic, diaphoretic, emmenagogue and mildly antiseptic[12][13][14][11]. They have been chewed as a treatment for mouth ulcers[13][11] or made into a tea to treat colds, rheumatism, worms etc[14][11].
The fresh young twigs are used as a diuretic[13]. An infusion has been used both internally and as a steam bath in the treatment of rheumatism[11].
The essential oil from the wood is an abortifacient, in some cases it has caused vomiting, convulsions, coma and death[12][13].
The plant is said to contain the anticancer compound podophyllotoxin[14].
The essential oil from the berries is used in aromatherapy. Its keyword is 'Composing'[15].
Usage: Wood - straight-grained, very durable, light, brittle, soft, easily worked, very fragrant, insect-resistant[6]. The wood does not shrink much on drying and weighs 30lb per cubic foot[16]. The reddish wood is highly prized for cabinet making[17], it is also used for fencing, the casing of lead pencils etc[6]. This tree has been over-exploited and large trees suitable for commercial exploitation are now rare[6].
The following reports are for the closely related J. virginiana, they probably also apply to this species.
An essential oil is obtained from the wood[4][18][19][20]. Composed of cedar camphor or cedrol[13], it is used in soaps, as an insecticide and moth repellent[20][13], a deodorant, in polishes, perfumery etc[12][21].
The leaves are used as an incense[18][13] and are also either burnt or crushed and then scattered around as an insect repellent[22][11].
The crushed bark can be used as a soft base in cradles[11]. The bark has also been used to make mats[11].
Some cultivars of this tree are suitable for ground cover when spaced about 90cm apart each way[23]. 'Tripartita' and 'Chamberlaynii' have been recommended[23].
A fairly wind resistant tree, it can be grown as part of a shelterbelt planting[5].
Pollinators: Wind
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates strong winds
In Leaf: Evergreen
Seed Ripens: Mid Fall
Flower Type: Dioecious
Known Hazards: All parts of the plant might be toxic[12][14].
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Rushforth, Keith. Conifers. Batsford, 1991.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 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 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 Elias, Thomas. The Complete Trees of North America. Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1980.
- ↑ Mitchell, Alan. Conifers in the British Isles. Stationery Office Books, 1975.
- ↑ RHS. The Garden Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society, 1987.
- ↑ Vines, Robert. Trees of Central Texas. University of Texas Press, 1987.
- ↑ Sargent, Charles. Manual of the Trees of North America. Dover, 1965.
- ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 11.11 Moerman, Daniel. Native American Ethnobotany. Timber Press, 1998.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 13.5 13.6 Weiner, Michael. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books, 1980.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 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.
- ↑ Vines, Robert. Trees of North Texas. University of Texas Press, 1982.
- ↑ Lauriault, Jean. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada. Fitzhenry and Whiteside, 1989.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Schery. Robert. Plants for Man. Prentice Hall, 1972.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
- ↑ Buchanan, Rita. A Weavers Garden.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Thomas, Graham. Plants for Ground Cover. Everyman, 1990.