The genus Juniperus - the Junipers
A genus of c. 40 species. Trees and shrubs of this genus bear two types of leaves, the juvenile type being awl- shaped and the adult appressed scale-like. In some species both types of foliage are present and in others only one type. The berry-like ovulate cones are red-brown, blue or blue-black in colour.
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Juniperus californica, Carrière
Californian juniper
Native in the coastal mountains of California where it grows to a height of 40 feet. Introduced into this country in 1853 by Veitch's of Exeter. The leaves, usually in threes, are closely appressed, short and thick and are glandular on the lower surface. The reddish brown “berry” is covered with a glaucous bloom.
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Juniperus chinensis, L.
Chinese juniper
Native to Northern China and Japan where it grows to a height of 60 feet. Introduced into this country in 1804, it is now the commonest juniper in cultivation. It bears both types of foliage and its habit is pyramidal with ascending branches. The “berry” is brown and very glaucous.
Juniperus communis, L.
Common juniper
This juniper has a very wide range of distribution in the Northern Hemisphere. It is one of our three indigenous conifers and occurs in a wide range of habitats and in at least two forms. It bears long subulate leaves in whorls of three and glaucous blue “berries”. The latter were used for flavouring gin and in the smoking of hams.
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Juniperus phoenica, L.
Phoenician juniper
Indigenous over a wide area in the Mediterranean region where it grows in dry situations on rocky hills. Introduced into this country in 1683, it is rarely cultivated as it survives only in the milder districts. An essential oil is distilled from its wood.
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Juniperus virginiana, L.
Pencil or Red Cedar
Native in the Eastern and Central United States and Eastern Canada, where it grows to a height of 100 feet. Introduced into this country about the middle of the 17th century, it is the largest of the junipers in cultivation. Usually the tree has a pyramidal habit and two or three main stems. It bears foliage of both types. Cedar-wood oil is obtained by distillation of the wood of this species and it is the most valuable of all known woods for the manufacture of “lead”-pencil casings.