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Native Plant Propagation Guidelines:
shrubs

Juniperus communis (common juniper)

Category: 
shrubs

common juniper (photo by Dave Polster)

Evergreen, prostrate, trailing, branched shrub usually less than 1 m high forming mats or clumps up to 3 m in diameter. Bark is very thin, reddish-brown, shredding to scaly. Leaves are needle-like to narrowly lanceolate, stiff and very prickly, dark-green above, whitish below. Male and female cones are on separate plants. Female cones are berry-like, fleshy, pale green when young, changing to bluish-black at maturity and covered with a white-grey bloom. Female cones ripen in the second or third growing season (Pojar et al., 1994; Banerjee et al., 2001). Photo by Dave Polster.

Scientific Name: 

Juniperus communis L. (J. siberica Burgsd., J. nana Willd.)

Family: 
Cupressaceae
English Name: 
common juniper
Other Names: 
ground juniper, dwarf juniper, mountain common juniper, old field common juniper, prostrate juniper, hackmatack, horse savin

Geographical Range and Habitat Requirements

Ecological Setting: 

Adaptable to diverse soil and climatic conditions. Grows in dry, open woods, on gravelly ridges, outcrops and open rocky slopes, and in muskeg. Ranges from lowland bogs to subalpine ridges and alpine tundra. The only circumpolar conifer in the northern hemisphere (Pojar et al.). Widespread in western North America from Alaska to California.

Soil Texture: 

Coarse textured to organic. Grows well in a soils ranging from gravelly to sandy loam and loam (Rook, 1998).

Nutrients: 

Well aerated soils with low nitrogen and phosphorus levels. Tolerant of ultramafic soils (FEIS, 1995).

Soil Reaction and Salinity: 

Variable: mildly calcareous to moderately acidic. Not saline tolerant (FEIS, 1995).

Moisture Regime: 

Diverse. Prefers dry, well drained soils, but will grow on moister sites on southern exposures.

Shade Tolerance: 

Full sunlight to light shade. Prefers open environments (Rose et al, 1998).

Successional Status: 

Early succession after fire to climax on dry open sites where competition is lacking.

BEC Zone and GOE Community Status: 

Common on rocky exposed sites in association with arbutus, Garry oak, Douglas-fir and oceanspray.

Uses

Site Rehabilitation: 

Useful hardy groundcover on exposed sites for soil erosion and site stabilization.

Wildlife: 

Good cover for birds and small mammals. Some birds feed on the berries but these are generally low in nutritional value (FEIS, 1995).

Landscaping: 

Highly-valued ornamental. Good colour contrast. Combines well with Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (S. Bastin, personal communication).

First Nations: 

Considered an important medicinal plant by interior peoples to treat urinary tract infections, but used with caution because it can induce uterine contractions and thus miscarriages (Pojar et al.). Tonics from needles used to treat colds, flu, arthritis and muscle aches. Infusions of berries used to treat stomach ailments and from bark used to treat respiratory problems (FEIS, 1995).

Other Uses: 

Berries used in European cooking as a flavouring for soups, stews, cordials and gin (Pojar et. al.). Wood is fine-grained, durable with attractively coloured heart wood. Used for small carvings, jewelry and crafts (FEIS, 1995).

Seed Propagation

Flowering Time: 

April - late May

Fruit Ripening Time: 

August - September. Fruit generally remains on the plant for at least 2 years, with dispersal in August of the second season.

Seed Collection Time: 

August - November

Crop Intervals: 

Irregular

Number of Seeds per Kilogram: 

56,100 to 120,150

Seed Viability: 

< 40%

Fruit and Seed Collection and Extraction: 

Fruits may be collected by hand-picking, stripping, or shaking the fruit from the shrubs onto collection trays or tarpaulins (Banerjee et al., 2001; Rose et al., 1998). Fruit macerated in a blender and seeds separated from the pulp by floatation. It is best to collect seeds when the majority are ripe (bluish-black in colour). Germination of seeds from green fruit is uniformly low (FEIS, 1995). Defective seeds are common (Banerjee et al., 2001).

Seed Storage: 

Dry seeds and store at -5º C. Seed retains viability for >5 years. May also be fall-sown (Rose et al., 1998; FEIS, 1995).

Fruit/Seed Dormancy and Treatment: 

Requires warm stratification (20º C night and 30º C day) for 60 to 90 days followed by cold stratification (1 to 5º C) for 90 days.

Vegetative Propagation

Method Success Rate Time of Collection
Softwood cuttings Moderate to good June - early July
Semi-hardwood cuttings n/a mid-summer
Hardwood cuttings Moderate to good success from dormant heel cuttings November - December
Root cuttings Good Late April
Suckers Good Winter
Plant division n/a n/a

Cuttings must be rooted under moist conditions because they take several months to a year to root. Sand is the best rooting medium. Cuttings from female plants may have better rooting potential than those from male plants. Root production from stem cuttings can be enhanced by wounding the base.

Outplanting Characteristics and Requirements

Seedlings are usually planted as three-year old stock. Space 1-3 m for ground cover. Slow growing. Prune in June if necessary (S. Bastin, personal communication).

Seed and Cutting Propagation Techniques

n/a

Additional Information and Photos

For more information and pictures, visit the E-Flora BC website at www.eflora.bc.ca.