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Juniperus communis nana
Cultivation Notes
This article was provided care of 'Plants For A Future'
| Latin Name: | Juniperus communis nana |
| Common Name: | Juniper |
| Family: | Cupressaceae |
| Synonyms: | J. nana. Willd. J. sibirica. Burgsdorf. |
| Known Hazards: | Although the fruit of this plant is quite often used medicinally and as a flavouring in various foods and drinks, large doses of the fruit can cause renal damage. Juniper should not be used internally in any quantities by pregnant women[65, 165]. |
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Author: Syme.
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| Habit: A Slow Growing Evergreen Shrub |
| Habitat: Rocks and moors on mountains and lowland bogs in N. Wales, N. England and Scotland[17]. |
| Height: 9.0 Width: |
Cultivation Details:
Succeeds in hot dry soils and in poor soils. Succeeds in most soils so long as they are well drained[186], preferring a neutral or slightly alkaline soil. Does well in chalky soils[1]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Tolerates a pH range from 4 to 8[186]. Succeeds in light woodland but dislikes heavy shade[186]. Established plants are very tolerant of drought[186].
Although the fully dormant plant is cold-tolerant throughout Britain, the young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts.
A very polymorphic species, there is a huge range of cultivars of widely diverse habits[11, 81]. At least some forms tolerate maritime exposure[186], there is a thriving colony in an exposed position at Land's End in Cornwall[81].
Seed takes 2 - 3 years to ripen on the plant[11].
Plants are usually very slow growing, often only a few centimetres a year[186].
Resists honey fungus[88]. Plants are sometimes attacked by a rust, this fungus has an aecidial stage on hawthorn (Crataegus spp.)[1].
Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.
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Propagation Notes:
Seed - requires stratification. The seed has a hard seedcoat and can be very slow to germinate, requiring a cold period followed by a warm period and then another cold spell, each of 2 - 3 months duration[78, 81]. Soaking the seed for 3 - 6 seconds in boiling water may speed up the germination process[11]. The seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Some might germinate in the following spring, though most will take another year. Another possibility is to harvest the seed 'green' (when the embryo has fully formed but before the seedcoat has hardened). The seedlings can be potted up into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Grow on in pots until large enough, then plant out in early summer. When stored dry, the seed can remain viable for several years[1].
Cuttings of mature wood, 5 - 10cm with a heel, September/October in a cold frame. Plant out in the following autumn[1, 78].
Layering in September/October. Takes 12 months[78].
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