Juniper

(Juniperus sabina 'Tamariscifolia')

Interesting Information About Plant:

Juniper is a woody shrub of the Juniperus genus, which are all aromatic evergreens of the Cupressaceae or Cyprus family. It is a plant widely distributed over the North Temperate Zone.  Back in the day it was also burned as a sacrifice to the gods and goddesses of ancient Sumeria and Babylonia. While in Europe the branches from the plant were smoldered while carried around the fields to protect livestock. The fruit from the plant also has many medicinal uses, such as cystitis, digestive problems, and colic, if they are collected unshrivelled in autumn and dried slowly in the shade. Also, if you just can’t find the right flavoring for your meal, then juniper can do that to. It can be used in sauerkraut, stuffing, and for flavoring beverages like tea and gin, while the roasted seeds can supposedly replace coffee. The indigenous people of Eurasia used juniper for tonics to treat kidney and stomach ailments, and rheumatism. Native Americans used to use it to treat colds, the flu, arthritis, muscle aches and kidney problems, and in Sweden it is used in a beer that’s supposedly good for you. This is a very diverse species, so is very challenging to identify; most specimens are cultivars, of which there are dozens.

Juniper (cultivar 'Sea Green')

Common Name(s):  Tam Juniper

Scientific Name:   Juniperus sabina 'Tamariscifolia'

Family Name (Scientific and Common):   Evergreen

Continent of Origin:   China     

Plant Growth Habit: Woody Shrub

Height at Maturity:  Between 3 – 10 Feet

Life Span:  Perennial

Seasonal Habit: Evergreen Perennial  

Growth Habitat:  Full to Partial Sun  

Manner of Culture:  Landscape Shrub-Vine-Tree 

Thorns on Younger Stem:  No

Cross Section of Younger Stem:  Roundish   

Stem (or Trunk) Diameter:  Between The Diameter of a Pencil and a Broom-Handle 

Produces Brownish Bark:  Yes  

Bark Peeling in Many Areas: No

Characteristics of Mature (Brownish) Bark: Bumpy 

Type of Leaf:  Scale-Like 

Length of Leaf (or Leaflet):  Length of a Credit Card and a Writing-Pen    

Leaf Complexity: Pinnately Compound 

Edge of Leaf:  Serrated

Leaf Arrangement:  Alternate 

Leaf has Petiole: No

Patterns of Main-Veins on Leaf (or Leaflet): Pinnate

Leaf Hairiness:  No Hairs

Color of Foliage in Summer: Green 

Change in Color of Foliage in October:   No Change   

Flowers:  Single 

Type of Flower: Like a Pine Cone  

Color of Flower:  Green  

Shape of Individual Flower:   none

Sexuality:  Male and Female Flowers on Separate Plants   

Size of Fruit: Smaller than a Quarter 

Fruit Fleshiness:   Fleshy  

Shape of Fruit: Spherical    

Color of Fruit at Maturity:  Gray   

Fruit Desirable to Birds or Squirrels:      No   

Louisville Plants That Are Most Easily Confused With This One: Creeping juniper

Unique Morphological Features of Plant: Many different height’s with this species

Poisonous: None of Plant

Pestiness (weedy, hard to control): No

Page Prepared by:

Jeff Lindo