Common Juniper Juniperus communis
- Phonetic Spelling
- jew-NIP-er-us KOM-yoo-nis
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Low, evergreen shrub or small tree; leaves small, short needle-like (awn or awl-shaped), tightly crowded on the twig, 3 at a whorl; fleshy seed cones bluish and berry-like.
This plant is seldom damaged by deer.
Seed: Cone
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- 'Compressa', 'Depressa', 'Depressa Aurea', 'Echiniformis', 'Gold Cone', 'Hibernica'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- 'Compressa', 'Depressa', 'Depressa Aurea', 'Echiniformis', 'Gold Cone', 'Hibernica'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Juniperus
- Species:
- communis
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North temperate America and Europe
- Distribution:
- Across the US
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds feed on berries.
- Play Value:
- Edible fruit
- Fragrance
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- EDIBLE PARTS: "Berries" used to flavor gin and for cooked meats and red cabbage. Juniper tea can be made by placing a dozen young berryless twigs in a quart of cold water; bring to a boil then allow to simmer for 10 minutes. Strain and use as regular tea, in small quantities. SOURCE: Angier, B. 1974. Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants. Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, Pa, 255 pp.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Irregular
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Blue
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Description:
- fleshy seed cones bluish and berry-like
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- Confier- does not have flowers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Acicular
- Subulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves small, short needle-like (awn or awl shaped), tightly crowded on the twig, 3 at a whorl
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-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Recreational Play Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Edible Garden
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
