Juniperus communis
A circumboreal evergreen coniferous shrub or small tree widely distributed across the northern hemisphere, growing on dry, open, rocky sites with well-aerated soils, intolerant of shade, relying on birds for seed dispersal, and generally fire-sensitive with slow postfire recovery.
Common Names
Common Juniper, Juniper, Irish Juniper, Blueberry Delight Juniper, Ground Juniper, Dwarf Juniper, Mountain Common Juniper, Old Field Common Juniper, Prostrate Juniper
Summary
Common juniper is an evergreen conifer forming a ground-cover to small tree, native to North America, Europe and Asia, with needle-like leaves in whorls of three and a white band on the inner surface; female plants produce fleshy, berry-like seed cones that ripen green to purple-black and are used for gin flavoring and cooking; foliage is fragrant.
Prefers full sun and well-drained soils; tolerates sandy, loamy, and clay soils and very acidic or very alkaline conditions; drought-tolerant; deer generally avoid it; not recommended south of USDA Zone 6; propagation by seed or semi-ripe cuttings; landscape uses include ground covers, borders, hedges, windbreaks, erosion control, and wildlife habitat; berries flavor gin and cooking, and essential oil is used in perfumery and crafts.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
5-25 ft
Spread
8-12 feet
Hardiness Zones
Zones 2-7
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally full sun; tolerates partial sun to partial shade.
Soil Type
Well-drained soil
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soil
Soil pH
4.0-8.0, mildly acidic to mildly alkaline, tolerates acidic to alkaline soils
Bloom Color
Yellow
Bloom Time
Spring (April–June)
Foliage Color
Green
Fall Foliage Color
No fall color
Leaf Lifecycle
Evergreen needle
Growth Rate
Slow to very slow growth; typically a few cm per year; 5–10 years to establish a good root system.
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Cuttings, Layering, Division, Root cuttings, Suckers, Graft
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts birds, butterflies, and moths
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- L.
- Publication
- Sp. Pl. 1040. (1753)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Pinophyta
- Class
- Pinopsida
- Subclass
- Cupressidae
- Order
- Cupressales
- Family
- Cupressaceae
- Genus
- Juniperus
Inferior Taxa
Juniperus communis var. communis Juniperus communis var. charlottensis Juniperus communis var. depressa Juniperus communis var. hemisphaerica Juniperus communis var. kelleyi Juniperus communis var. megistocarpa Juniperus communis var. nipponica Juniperus communis var. saxatilis
Synonyms
Juniperus uralensis Juniperus reflexa Juniperus saxatilis Juniperus dealbata Juniperus cracovia Juniperus fastigiata Juniperus borealis Juniperus argaea Juniperus microphylla Juniperus hibernica Juniperus hispanica Juniperus interrupta Juniperus kanitzii Juniperus albanica Sabina dealbata Juniperus communis var. arborescens Juniperus communis var. oblonga Juniperus communis var. hispanica Juniperus communis var. stricta Juniperus communis var. fastigiata Juniperus communis subsp. hemisphaerica Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. hemisphaerica Juniperus communis subsp. brevifolia Juniperus communis subsp. cupressiformis Juniperus communis subsp. pannonica Juniperus communis var. oblonga-pendula Juniperus communis var. pendula Juniperus communis var. pendula-aurea Juniperus communis f. pendulina Juniperus communis f. pungens Juniperus communis f. aurea Juniperus communis f. suecica Juniperus communis f. stricta Juniperus communis f. pendula Juniperus communis var. pendens Juniperus oblonga-pendula Juniperus communis var. compressa Juniperus communis f. compressa Juniperus communis var. montana Juniperus communis var. vulgaris Juniperus withmanniana Juniperus communis f. crispa Juniperus compressa Juniperus communis var. erecta Juniperus communis var. suecica Juniperus vulgaris Juniperus communis var. brevifolia Juniperus communis f. oblonga-pendula Juniperus communis var. variegata-aurea Juniperus communis var. aurea Juniperus communis var. reflexa