How to distinguish medicinal plants from their counterparts. Cossack juniper - beauty and poison rolled into one Thuja - an evergreen plant

Today you no longer need to worry for a long time about what to plant in the garden. The shops are full of all kinds of flowers and shrubs, the types and varieties of which allow you to completely recreate the imaginary picture. And evergreens are increasingly found in this picture. Many people want to see elegant, tall tree with small dove-blue needles to plant a hedge or low-growing shrub with small branches as accents in flower arrangements. And as soon as you come to the store, juniper and thuja immediately claim the role of such a plant. They look very similar, but each has its own characteristics.

Similarities between thuja and juniper

And they belong to the same cypress family, so they have no special external differences. These plants have the same scale-like needles. Although in some cases it is already possible to distinguish them by this factor. Young thuja and juniper shrubs have needle-shaped needles. But thuja needles always become scaly over the years, and in some types of juniper they remain needle-shaped. Both of these plants can please you with an unimaginable number of varieties of various shapes and shades.

Differences between thuja and juniper by cones and sizes

Thuja and juniper can be completely indoor plants, and can grow several meters in height. The tree-like thuja reaches up to 70 meters in height with a trunk diameter of 6 meters. Juniper grows a maximum of 15 meters. True, such specimens are extremely rare. History speaks of different ages of such plants. Thuja can delight with its appearance for up to 100 years, while juniper can last for hundreds. But if it concerns only their decorative properties, these facts do not play a role. The difference between thuja and juniper can be found in the shape of the cones: in juniper they are spherical, while in thuja they are oval.

How does thuja differ from juniper in shape?

Modern breeding technologies have made it possible to bring to the market a lot of plants of similar shapes. Both thuja and juniper simply amaze with the choice of varieties. But, nevertheless, they cannot be called completely identical. Some types of thuja can acquire a perfect spherical shape, which cannot be said about juniper. But if you need a creeping plant, then the latter is what you need. Why they land also plays a big role. Many people look for juniper, but in reality it is not as good for this as thuja. It is usually planted either as a solitary specimen or in small groups. In addition, a hedge made of juniper will be more expensive than one made of thuja, since more plants will be needed. And juniper takes longer to grow.

Conditions for the growth of thuja and juniper

Thuja and juniper are unpretentious plants, although even in this there are differences. Thuja can grow luxuriantly in a smoky, gas-polluted environment, while juniper will not please in such conditions good development. That is why thuja is more common in big cities, and in summer cottages– juniper. But thuja is demanding on the soil. It is best to plant it in rich, moist soil in an open area. sun rays place. Juniper is resistant to drought, frost and can grow in poor soils.

Juniper or thuja - which is better?

Few plants have such beneficial properties, like thuja and juniper. Differences in such plantings can be supplemented by another criterion - the amount of phytoncides. These elements kill bacteria in the air and give that enchanting pine aroma that is characteristic of these plants. There are more of them in juniper, so the smell will be brighter. But it’s clear to say that Thuja is better or juniper is impossible. They are beautiful in their own way and are great for any garden. So, if you need to make a choice, you need to proceed from where, how and why such a plant will be planted.

Among the ancient Slavs, Juniper was a symbol of eternal life. The spicy smell of burning branches in the village was a sad sign. This meant that someone in the village was being escorted on their final journey, which would bestow eternal life.

Shamans used juniper smoke in ritual fumigations and ceremonies, giving the bush magical powers.

In Belarusian folklore there was a legend about an evil spirit named “kaduk” living in the trunk of a Juniper tree. In this region the bush was avoided.

At the same time, among other peoples, Juniper is a symbol of holiness, the abode of the gods.

In Christianity, Juniper deserves special mention. Many clergy still maintain the tradition of consecrating a juniper branch and hiding it behind the icon. It is believed that this measure will prevent the temple and icons from misfortune.

juniper names

In different regions of Russia in the old days, Juniper had many names.

In some areas it was called Veres, in others – Yalovets, Morzhukha, Bruzhevelnik.

The most common name “Juniper”, according to one version, comes from the phrase “between the fir trees”. Often this shrub is found as undergrowth in spruce thickets.

According to another version, the name comes from the ancient Slavic word “mozha”, which means knot. A quick glance at the twisting trunks of old trees reveals similarities with real rope knots.

WHAT JUNIPER LOOKS LIKE

Juniper is a shrub or small tree with a thin trunk and pointed top up to 5 - 6 meters high.

The plant's needles, 1–2 cm long, are very hard and prickly.

There are female and male specimens. In male representatives, the crown is denser, narrower and pointed.

The bark has a gray-brown color and a fibrous texture.

The trunk of a tree often bends in bizarre patterns with branches smoothly turning into verticals.

Juniper grows very slowly, so hundred-year-old specimens barely reach large sizes. Even the oldest representatives of the shrub have a height of about 5 meters and a trunk thickness of 10 - 15 cm.

The maximum age of Juniper is 200 years, although there are representatives much older.

Where does Juniper grow?

The shrub is considered a relict plant, a witness to ancient times. After all, Juniper has been growing on Earth for more than 50 million years.

The shrub has 71 species. 20 of them grow in our country.

Juniper is widespread in the Urals, the Caucasus, Primorye and Siberia. Various types of shrubs are found in Southeast Asia, America and the Mediterranean regions.

In the forests of Russia, the most common species is the common juniper.

The shrub grows in the undergrowth and in clearing areas. Cultivated in gardens and parks. Some plant species are found in the mountains in the most inaccessible points.

When does Juniper bloom?

Juniper blooms in May, producing yellow flowers on male plants and green flowers on females.

It begins to bear fruit in the fall. On the bushes you can find both green and black-purple berries. Juniper fruits ripen only in the second year and are inedible for humans.

Medicinal properties of Juniper

Juniper berries contain copper, iron, manganese, aluminum, great amount vitamins and essential oils.

A decoction of Veres fruits successfully combats problems of the urinary system, so it was used in the treatment of edema, inflammation, and even in the removal of kidney stones.

A decoction of berries improves bile secretion and enhances intestinal motility.

It is also used in the treatment of the respiratory tract. This remedy is an excellent expectorant and thins mucus.

The needles contain a huge amount of phytoncides that kill harmful bacteria.

A pillow with juniper sawdust can cure headaches and mild runny nose, relieve stress and calm nervous excitement.

IN modern medicine Diuretics, diaphoretics, painkillers and other medicines are made from Juniper.

Applications of Juniper

Green berries of Juniper are used to make natural golden-yellow paints. Black - for the production of brown and black paint.

Juniper fruits are not edible and are used as one of the ingredients in the food industry in the manufacture of sweets, baked goods, fruit drinks, and gingerbreads.

Dried juniper is an excellent material for woodworkers and carvers. The wood is perfectly dried and will never crack. Without large resin passages, the wood is easily stained and polished. Having a high density, this material allows you to apply fine threads.

Valuable resin is extracted from Juniper, which is used to make high-quality natural white varnish.

Veres wood is widely used for making pencils.

Contraindications

Medicines and preparations that contain Juniper are contraindicated for people with kidney problems.

Juniper is an inedible berry. Particular care should be taken when handling Juniper Cossack, as it is poisonous and can cause vomiting, damage to the kidneys and nervous system. In some cases, death can occur.

Juniper - interesting facts

Juniper thickets form near coal seams. This property is used by geologists when searching for coal deposits. Thus, the Moscow Region coal basin was opened.

Before pickling mushrooms, in the old days, peasants treated barrels with boiling water and a juniper broom, killing putrefactive microbes.

The oldest Juniper grows in Crimea. According to one version, its age is approximately 400 years. According to another – 2 thousand years. Determining the exact age of a living Juniper is extremely difficult.

Moths never appear in cabinets made from Juniper.

Photos used in the material: sereja.serjio2015, Zekkadrb , angruzinov valerius66 , Fl1983 (Yandex.Photos)

Video: coniferous plants for alpine slides

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Juniper virginiana "Kobold" (J. virginiana "Kobold") Juniper virginiana "Nana Compacta" (J. virginiana "Nana Compacta") Dwarf forms of juniper: Juniper horizontalis "Blue Pygmea" (J. horizontalis "Blue Pygmea") Juniper horizontalis "Wiltonii" (J. h. "Wiltonii") Horizontal juniper "Glauca" (J. h. "Glauca") Horizontal juniper "Hughes" (J. h. "Hughes")

Juniper: planting and care
Hard verticals
larch
...
Throughout the year, coniferous trees will delight you with their beauty, clean air and the tart smell of resin. The human eye discerns the most color nuances in the green spectrum, so in winter they do not lose their attractiveness; against the backdrop of snow cover, coniferous plants look especially impressive, striking with a variety of shades. But they are good not only for their color and beauty - they also cleanse the atmosphere of dust and harmful gases, releasing phytoncides, and stop the proliferation of bacteria, viruses, and some insects. In addition, they are extremely durable. Their fallen needles rot slowly and serve as a good “blanket” for the roots, forming a fertile layer. A walk in such a corner of nature will bring no less pleasure than a walk in a real coniferous forest. Landscape designers carefully select varieties of coniferous plants not only for compatibility with environment, crown shape, needle color, but also maximum height. Not only the appearance of the site, but also the decorative effect of the plants themselves depends on how they are selected.

Distribution of conifers in the composition

Against the backdrop of a neat lawn, conifers look best.

By following these principles, you can avoid many common mistakes made by amateur gardeners. For example, plants are planted without taking into account their ability to grow further and at too close a distance from each other. In the future, this leads to the fact that some of them grow quite quickly, blocking the access of sunlight to other plants and even to the plant itself. residential building. As a result, disharmony in the size of plants becomes noticeable, and general form flower beds lose their original charm.
Availability of developing a flowerbed design and subsequent preparation for planting;
1. Serbian spruce ‘Nana’
1. Black pine - Pinusmugo‘Mops’ (below, near No. 10)

With golden needles:

Combination of coniferous plants with others

Soft (in most species) needles of various colors, delicate aroma, undemanding to growing conditions - these are the reasons why gardeners and designers are attracted to junipers. Junipers are planted in sunny places. In the shade they can grow shapeless and loose and lose all their decorative advantages. Only common juniper can tolerate some shading. The distance between plants should be from 0.5 m for medium-sized and short ones to 1.5 - 2 m for tall forms. Before planting, all container plants must be soaked in water by keeping the earthen ball in a container of water for about 2 hours. The depth of the planting hole depends on the size of the earthen ball and the root system of the plant. Usually junipers are planted in a hole, the size of which is 2-3 times larger than the coma. For large bushes - 70 cm deep. At the bottom of the hole you definitely need to make a drainage layer from broken bricks and sand 15-20 cm thick. And cover the roots with a soil mixture consisting of peat, turf soil and sand in a ratio of 2:1:1. Large plants are planted so that the root collar is 5-10 cm above the edges of the planting hole. In young plants it should be at ground level. The optimal soil acidity is from 4.5 to 7 pH, depending on the type and variety. Liming is useful for Cossack juniper - before planting on heavy soils, add dolomite flour or fluff lime (80-100 g per hole measuring 50 x 50 x 60 cm). Junipers are undemanding to soil. All they need is the application of nitroammophoska (30-40 g/m2) or “Kemiry-universal” (20 g per 10 liters of water) in April-May. Junipers are watered only in dry summers, and then infrequently - 2-3 times per season. Watering rate - 10-30 l per mature plant. Once a week it can be sprayed, certainly in the evening. Common and Chinese junipers do not tolerate dry air. Juniperus virginiana is drought-resistant, but grows better in soils of average moisture. Young plantings of junipers require loosening - shallow, after watering and weeding. Immediately after planting, the soil is mulched with peat, wood chips, pine bark or pine nut shells, the thickness of the mulch layer is 5-8 cm. Heat-loving cultivars are mulched for the winter, and in early spring The mulch must be raked away, as it can cause rotting of the root collar. Due to their slow growth, junipers are pruned very carefully. Dry branches are mainly removed at any time of the year. Only young plants are covered for the winter, and then only in the first year after planting. Juniper can be propagated by seeds and cuttings.

cypress
, and of any kind. But this plant is not evergreen, although it is a conifer.
Part 17 - Design (garden, private house in the Moscow region)
baltezers.lv

The distance to the composition of coniferous trees and shrubs from the most visible area of the site should be approximately two times its height. In this case, the composition will look correct, aesthetically pleasing and will not disturb the proportions.

Rules for planting coniferous plants in the ground

Pine, spruce, fir or juniper are chosen as the basis of a conifer flower bed. Shrubs combined with conifers are rhododendrons, barberries, heather, spirea, erica, and boxwood. Perennial herbaceous plants such as cereals and ferns are also suitable for the composition. Phlox, thyme, bryozoan, creeping tenacious, and sedum are chosen as ground cover plants that form the background of the flower bed. The photo illustrates the combination of plants in flower beds with conifers better than any descriptions.

Ease and simplicity in caring for a flower bed with conifers;

dachadesign.ru

Compositions from coniferous plants

2. Serbian spruce ‘Pendula’ 2. Juniper medium “Gold Star” - Juniperus pfitzeriana ‘GoldStar’Juniper virginiana "Aureospicata" (J. virginiana "Aureospicata") Diseases and pests of juniperorganize the space of Italian gardens, and they are also stable accents. In central Russia they can be partially replaced by some narrow-vertical forms of conifers:

Skeptics will say that you cannot walk on coniferous surfaces. But even among herbaceous groundcovers, not all tolerate trampling. Meanwhile Part 18 - How to make a florarium with your own hands?

Series of messages “everything for the garden”:

Coniferous compositions look good near garden ponds. Most often they are combined with various deciduous trees to obtain an original ensemble.

When preparing the soil for a flower bed, it should be taken into account that the peculiarity of coniferous plants is their unpretentiousness and ability to take root in any soil. Still, it would be wiser to take care of the soil in advance and mix the leaf or ground turf, adding peat and sand. Special mixtures for coniferous trees, sold in gardening stores, are also useful.
Possibility of preserving plantings in a flower bed for several years. Coniferous plants are primarily perennial plants and do not require annual renewal;
3. Acer maple ‘Flamingo’
3. Thuja occidentalis “Teddy” - Thujaoccidentalis ‘Teddy’
Juniper medium "Gold Coast" (J. x. media "Gold Coast") (on the edge)
The most common disease of junipers is rust. Among the pests, the most dangerous are spider mites, juniper leaf miners, aphids and juniper scale insects. Against aphids, spray twice with “Fitoverm” (2 g per 1 liter of water) with an interval of 10-14 days. Mining moths are afraid of “Decis” (2.5 g per 10 l), which is also sprayed on the plant twice and also after 10-14 days. The drug “Karate” (50 g per 10 l) is used against spider mites, and karbofos (70 g per 10 l of water) against scale insects. To stop rust, the plant will have to be sprayed four times at an interval of 10 days with a solution of arceride (50 g per 10 liters of water).
common juniper
cross-paired microbiota
Part 19 - Tuberous begonias in pots. Design examples.
Part 1 - Grass roof
It is best to place coniferous compositions along the western or eastern part of the site.
Holes for plants are dug to a depth of approximately 60-70 cm and lined with prepared soil mixtures. Pebbles are used as drainage. After planting coniferous plants, it is necessary to compact the soil and mulch. If necessary, you can add an additional layer of soil.
Saving material costs for creating a flower bed and caring for it;
4. Common juniper 'Hibernica'
4. Berberis thunbergii ‘Atropurpurea Nana’
Juniper medium "Old Gold" (J. x. media "Old Gold")
Juniper varieties
"Sentinel",
tolerates shade, forms good mats that turn green immediately after the snow melts. It looks especially impressive on a slightly textured surface. Weeping forms are also suitable
Text: Alexander Sapelin
Part 2 - VITAMIN CACTUS
The correct distribution of coniferous plants is the key to harmony and aesthetics in the composition.

How to use conifers in the garden

The design of a flower bed of coniferous plants usually involves 12 design options. Every gardener, whether amateur or professional, can develop his own composition. But before starting this, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with their main types.

Saving time on maintaining the appearance of a flower bed of conifers at the proper level.

5. Common juniper

Coniferous arches

5. Five-leafed maiden grape - Parthenocissusquinquefolia(L.) With gray or blue needles: Over 60 species and 150 decorative forms of juniper are now known, of which 22 species and 25 cultivars are cultivated in Russia. Cultivar is a term adopted by the International Code of Nomenclature for cultivated plants, meaning “decorative form of woody plants.”

Conifers on a trunk

juniper virginiana common spruceConifers, garden composition ... Many types of conifers are used in the design of a garden plot - thuja, juniper, spruce, cypress, pine, cedar. Conifers themselves, as mentioned above, are quite unpretentious plants. But when planting, you should pay attention to nearby trees and plants, as there are some that do not fit well with conifers. For example, if a bird cherry bush or a birch tree grows nearby, then this combination will not be very successful. In order for all plants to feel comfortable, the following rules of the neighborhood must be observed: CompactThe choice has been made, it’s time to start forming a flowerbed of conifers. This process consists of several stages. 6. Chinese lilac6. J. scopulorum "Blue Arrow" J. x. media "Blaauw" Juniper "Blue Carpet" (J. squamata) "Blue Carpet") Scaly juniper "Blue Star" (J. squamata "Blue Star") Tall junipers with a pyramidal and columnar crown: "Skyrocket" or "Blue Arow", etc. Even from insufficiently "slender" conifers You can get narrow columns by regularly shaping them - it is important to do this from the very beginning, cutting the needles further from the trunk from year to year. Rigid molding of an adult plant will produce a trunk with half-bare branches, which will take a long time to be overgrown, and in the worst case, will remain bare forever. For such operations, varieties ("Virgata", "Inversa", "Reflexa", etc.) grafted into the root collar or on a very low trunk, and its prostrate forms (Repens, etc.) are suitable. may resemble scattered spruce branches, but many people like it. With conifers with a raised crown above the ground that tolerates shearing, you can do phytoplasty: trim their upper edge, creating the desired relief. Creeping varieties are suitable for these purposes

Conifers as ground cover

So much has been written about the types and varieties of conifers, their combinations with other plants, and agricultural technology that it’s time to talk about the details. In particular, about the use of conifers in the garden. Try to take a broader look at seemingly simple things, and you will definitely discover something new. Part 11 - Cozy and beautiful courtyard.you need to take into account climatic features: cypress will not grow in cold climates;. In this scheme, coastal juniper is planted in the foreground, and mountain pine and western thuja are placed in the middle of the flowerbed. The peculiarity of this composition is its small size, which allows it to be arranged along fences, and thereby decorate them. Arranging a flower bed of coniferous plants: 7. Mock orange Lemoine7. Great plantain “Rubra” - Plantagomajor ‘Rubra’ Juniper cuttings.Glauca juniper (Juniperus virginiana "Glauca") Virginia juniper "Skyrocket" (Juniperus virginiana "Skyrocket") Common juniper "Columnaris" (Juniperus communis "Columnaris") Common juniper "Hibernica" (Juniperus communis "Hibernica") Juniper nickname Chinese "Kaizuka" (Juniperus chinensis "Kaizuka") source

Conifers as hanging plants

thuja occidentalis

Coniferous hedges and topiary

common juniperThis is a very expressive technique, common in Europe and America. In our conditions, it is also possible to make a coniferous arch, but it will not look as strict. It is necessary to build a stable metal or wooden arched structure and plant weeping coniferous forms on both sides. In our case, these can be forms of common spruce ("Inversa", "Reflexa", etc.), Serbian spruce ("Pendula", "Pendula Bruns", etc.). While the top is young and flexible, it is tied to a support. Over time, it will become lignified and remain in this position. Falling side branches need to be trimmed if necessary. Theoretically, weeping varieties could also be used. Part 12 - Glass in garden design Almost all conifers cannot tolerate proximity to larch;Big Design of a flower bed with conifers;Source 8. Early thyme - Thymus praecox It is almost impossible to obtain decorative forms of juniper from seeds, so they are propagated vegetatively - by cuttings.

Coniferous verticals

Coniferous shrub with a spiral shape. with a vertical crown shape,("Repanda", "Hornibrookii" etc.) etc. common juniperPart 13 - Compositions from coniferous plants Thuja “loves” to grow next to spruce;. The flower bed is ideal for large spaces and is usually located in areas adjacent to fences. In this composition, 2 varieties of common juniper are planted along the fence, and in front of them is a western thuja, on its sides there are junipers, in the middle there is mountain pine, barberry and again juniper, but now scaly, and then along the edge - horizontal juniper of 2 species; Selection of coniferous plants;Juniper 9. Phlox subulata1The crown is dense, the shoots are branched and twisting. Height up to 4-5 m. Diameter up to 1.5 m.prickly spruce

Conifers a la bonsai

cossack juniper ("Horstmann", etc.), but it does not always and not everywhere reach the size of a standard arch.Part 14 - Landscape design 4 It is undesirable to plant cedars and pines, fir and spruce trees nearby.Horizontal Design of a flowerbed of coniferous plants;Decorative garden compositions

10.Evergreen sheep - Helicototrichon sempevirensUse scissors, carefully trim the narrow end of the “heel”, as if rounding it and removing the exfoliated bark on the handle. The needles are bright green. , .Abroad, entrances to a house or garden are often flanked by standard forms - often these are coniferous and deciduous evergreen “balls on a stick”. For these purposes, we can use only conifers - Part 15 - Tuberous begonias in pots. Design examples. The right combination of species is the key to the health and long-term beauty of plants.. Its feature is mandatory requirement flat, flat surface for planting. In its creation, 3-4 types of junipers are used, for example, molded Virginia, Prince of Wales, Andorra Compact;common juniper

At first glance this may seem fantastic. But those weeping forms of conifers, from which arches can be made, could well become hanging plants. Often their shoots grow significantly longer than the trunk and spread along the ground if they are not pruned by the garden owners. It is this circumstance that suggests the idea of using them as hanging plants. The types and varieties of conifers can be the same, but the grafting must be done either on a very low trunk or in the root collar. Then the plant is planted, for example, on a terrace, and its branches hang from the retaining wall. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the extent to which this retaining wall freezes. If it is severe, then the assortment is reduced (for example, among spruce trees we will give preference to the common one rather than the Serbian one), and the plant itself is planted as far as possible from the edge.

thuja occidentalisDesign series:

It is best to start planting conifers in late spring, from the third ten days of April to the first ten days of May. The plant is still “sleeping”, active growth has not yet begun, and this means that the plant will tolerate transportation and planting to a new location well. You should dig a hole of a suitable size for the root system of the plant, then pour a layer of fertile soil and compact it well. Next, you need to place the seedling no deeper than the root and cover it with earth. After this, you need to ensure a regular and thorough watering regime, preventing the soil from drying out. Forest-style flowerbed

Planting of coniferous plants themselves. 1. 2. Thuja occidentalis ‘Golden Glob’ At the bottom of the cutting, cut off the needles, exposing the cutting by 2-2.5 cm.Very decorative, used in single plantings, in Japanese gardens.

. The latter can “burn” in the sun after cutting especially strongly - growing young shoots are more vulnerable.

It is clear that in our gardens there are also trimmed coniferous walls and figures. But still they are not the same as in Europe. The question is the degree of detail of the cropped figure. A simple hedge? No problem, and quite a large assortment of plants ( and dwarf formsPart 1 - "Environmentally friendly" lamps Thujas ready for planting in the ground. Allows you to create the impression of a natural landscape. For such a natural flower bed, rock juniper and mountain pine, as well as Canadian and common spruce, are ideal.

Despite the rich selection of coniferous plants, in landscape design there are common principles for forming a flower bed from conifers. 2.

3. Cossack juniper - Juniperus sabina ‘Variegata’3

Rock juniper "Springbank" (Juniperus scopulorum "Springbank") Cossack juniper "Erecta" (Juniperus sabina "Erecta")They have little to do with the classics of the genre - they are more like bonsai haircuts. There are many of them on the market, they are not cheap, and not all of them have performed well. Even species that winter tolerably in our country, clipped as bonsai, begin to suffer: with

thujacommon spruce

Part 2 - Do you want an oriental style lamp?

If you want to have a beautiful and well-kept garden, a good solution is

Conifers in summer cottages are very popular because of their unique features: they are unpretentious to various types soil, tolerate different weather and climatic conditions well, look great in single groups and are practically not susceptible to diseases as part of compositions. In addition to the chic appearance, coniferous decorations also have the following advantages:

Juniper plant in the photo

Decorative species of junipers, both on private plots and in Russian gardens, are still relatively rare. And not at all because they are not worthy of due attention. On the contrary, judging by the description of juniper species, among conifers these trees are perhaps the most beautiful. They are distinguished by their varied shape, graceful needles and decorative fruits.

In addition, it is unlikely that there will be another such natural air ozonizer that cleans it of harmful organisms in a short time and over a significant radius. It is not for nothing that there is an aura of benevolence and peace among junipers. This plant is rightfully medicinal.

The homeland of juniper is the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere, less often - the mountains of the tropical part of Central America, the West Indies and East Africa. Juniper thickets live in the undergrowth of light-coniferous or light-leaved forests on sandy and even rocky mountain soils.

More than 20 species of juniper trees are known in Europe and Asia; no more than five or six are common in Russia. They are very different in both appearance, and according to biological requirements.

Juniper is an evergreen coniferous plant belonging to the Cypress family. These can be trees with a height of 12 to 30 m. There are also ornamental shrubs junipers - creeping (up to 40 cm in height) and erect (up to 1-3 m). The leaves (needles) of this plant are needle-shaped or scale-like.

Look at the photo to see what different types of juniper look like:

Juniper
Juniper

The plant is monoecious or dioecious, depending on the species, age and environmental conditions. Male spikelets are yellowish with scaly stamens, female cones are berry-shaped, with a bluish coating, bearing 1-10 seeds. Flowering - in April-May. Cones usually ripen in the second year after flowering.

What do the roots of a juniper plant look like? The root system of these trees and shrubs is taprooted, with developed lateral branching. Powerful roots are sometimes located in the upper soil horizon.

When describing the juniper tree, it is especially worth noting the strong coniferous smell emitted by these plants and due to the content of essential oils in the needles. Volatile substances have a pronounced phytoncidal effect. The pine smell kills microorganisms and repels insects, in particular mosquitoes.

The smell of juniper can improve the well-being of those suffering from angina pectoris and relieve insomnia. The beneficial role of sleeping pads with dry juniper bark and steam bath brooms, which relieve joint and neurological pain, is well known.

Branches of all types of coniferous juniper trees with live needles are popularly used to fumigate an infected room or simply freshen the air.

The berries of this plant are an excellent raw material for the confectionery, alcoholic beverage and perfume industries.

Common juniper in the photo

Common juniper- a plant in the form of a bush or tree (up to 12 m in height) with a cone-shaped crown.

Young shoots of this species are initially green, then reddish, bare, and round. The bark of the branches and trunks is grayish-brown, dark, scaly-flaky. The needles are in whorls of three, shiny, lanceolate-linear, 1-1.5 cm long, dark green or bluish-green with a hard, spiny tip.

The plant is dioecious. Male flowers- yellow spikelets consisting of thyroid scales with 4-6 anthers. Female ones - resemble green buds of three scales and three ovules. Blooms in May - June. It begins to bear fruit at the age of 5-10 years. Cone berries are single or several pieces, spherical, up to 10 mm in diameter.

As you can see in the photo of the juniper, the fruits of the tree in a mature state are dark blue with a bluish waxy coating:

Common juniper
Common juniper

The berries have a resinous smell and a sweetish-pleasant taste. Contains up to 40% sugar. A bountiful harvest is repeated after 3-4 years. The cones are collected by shaking them onto a film or cloth spread under the plants and dried under a canopy.

This juniper is undemanding to soil, cold-resistant, and does not tolerate drought well. When transplanted without a clod of soil, it takes root with difficulty. It is propagated by seeds, which mature within 2-3 years and have an oblong shape and a brownish-brown color.

Known decorative forms common juniper:

Juniper "Pyramidal" in the photo

"Pyramidal" with a columnar crown,

"Pressed"- low-growing shrub with dense dark green needles,

"Horizontal"- a low creeping shrub, densely covered with blue-green needles, sharp and prickly.

Look at the photo of varieties of this type of juniper:

Juniper
Juniper

These plants are propagated by cuttings and grafting. Common juniper and its decorative forms grow very slowly. They cannot tolerate excess salt in soils and often die when transplanted, which must be taken into account when growing them.

The medicinal properties of the common juniper were known and used back in Ancient Egypt, Rome, Greece and Rus'. It is a good diuretic, choleretic, expectorant and antimicrobial agent. And the North American Indians, for example, kept patients with tuberculosis in juniper thickets, not allowing them to leave until they fully recovered.

In the 17th century in Russia, oil and alcohol were made from juniper fruits. The latter was used to produce a special vodka, which was considered a reliable remedy for almost all diseases. The oil was used as an effective antiseptic in the treatment of wounds, burns, and frostbite.

The fruits of this juniper are used as a seasoning. They add a special forest aroma to poultry and game dishes. The fruits are also used as a coffee substitute. They are still used to make jelly, marmalade, and syrup, which are added to jelly, confectionery and baked goods.

Common juniper cones contain essential oils and 20-25% glucose; they are not inferior in sugar content to grapes. They are used in medicine as a diuretic, in the liquor industry for the production of gin, and in the confectionery industry for the production of syrups. This type of juniper is widely used in homeopathy, as well as in Tibetan medicine.

Pay attention to the photo - this type of juniper in dachas and personal plots is used in single and group plantings, as well as for hedges:

Juniper in dachas and garden plots

The name of this type of juniper is more often heard than others, since it is the most studied and used as a medicinal plant.

In autumn, juniper fruits are harvested. They are aromatic, black-brown in color and have a sweet-spicy taste. Infusions and decoctions are prepared from them (1 tablespoon of crushed fruits per glass of water), which are prescribed as a diuretic and disinfectant for kidney diseases, Bladder, kidney and liver stones. Decoctions are also used for gout, rheumatism, arthritis, helping to remove mineral salts from the body.

Both berries and pine needles are used for external use - for skin diseases, gout, arthritis.

You can also be treated with fresh fruits, taking them only after consulting with your doctor, first 2-4 on an empty stomach, then increasing by 1 berry daily, up to 13-15, after which the dose is also gradually reduced to 5 pieces. Fruits are contraindicated in acute inflammatory processes in the kidneys.

Cossack juniper in the photo

Juniper Cossack- a low creeping shrub with recumbent or ascending branches covered with dense needles with a silvery tint.

Unlike the ordinary juniper, the Cossack juniper has poisonous berries. They are small, spherical, brown-black in color with a bluish coating and a very unpleasant odor.

By touching the ground, the plant's branches can take root. As it grows, juniper forms large clumps up to 3-4 m in diameter. This species is very drought-resistant, light-loving and winter-hardy, loves calcareous soil, but grows on all types of soil. Thanks to its unusual appearance, this juniper is indispensable in landscaping, for strengthening rocky slopes, and in decorative groups on lawns.

When propagating this type of juniper by green cuttings, standard planting material will be obtained 2-3 years earlier than from seeds, and the characteristics of the mother plant will be completely preserved. Reproduction by layering is the fastest and easiest way of vegetative propagation of Cossack juniper, but it is very unproductive.

Such are known garden varieties this type of juniper, like

Juniper "columnar"
Juniper "erect"

“columnar”, “erect”,

Juniper form "cypress-leaved"
Juniper form “variegated”

"cypress-leaved", "variegated"

Juniper form "tamarixolia"

And "tamarixolifolia".

The most interesting is the “white-edged” one with almost white needles at the ends of the branches. Each is decorative in its own way and differs in the shade and shape of the needles.

Juniper Cossack comb-leaved- dioecious, low, almost creeping shrub with smooth, reddish-gray bark. Cones up to 7 mm in diameter, brown-black, with a bluish coating, contain 2-6 pieces. seeds Frost-resistant, drought-resistant.

Chinese juniper in the photo

Chinese juniper- trees or shrubs with a columnar or pyramidal crown. Young shoots are grayish or yellowish-green, round, later brownish. The bark of the trunks is brownish-gray. The needles are predominantly opposite or in young specimens partially whorled (crosswise opposite and needle-shaped in whorls of three), on the shoots they are scaly, rhombic, blunt, tightly pressed to the shoot up to 1.5 mm in length. Propagated by seeds and cuttings.

Cone berries are single or in groups, spherical or ovoid, 6-10 mm in size, mature blue-black.

This type of juniper prefers fertile, well-moistened soils. Does not tolerate drought well. Withstands temperatures down to -30° without visible damage.

As you can see in the photo, this decorative juniper is used for single, group and alley plantings:

Juniper on the site
Juniper on the site

Of the numerous decorative forms in summer cottages, they grow the “variegata” form - with whitish tips of the shoots, and the “fitzeriana” - with spreading, upward-pointing branches and drooping branches. The variegated, low-growing form is interesting - with arched branches and drooping greenish and golden shoots.

This type of juniper can be grown as a bonsai.

Here you can find photos, names and descriptions of other varieties of juniper suitable for growing in the garden.

Siberian juniper in the photo

Siberian juniper- a low-growing (up to 1 m) creeping shrub with short, sharp, dark green, prickly needles. It is characterized by winter hardiness and unpretentiousness to growing conditions.

Juniperus virginiana in the photo

Red cedar- monoecious evergreen tree. This juniper looks like a real giant - its height reaches up to 20 m. Its homeland is North America. The crown is narrowly ovoid, the needles are long (up to 13 mm) and prickly. The cones ripen in the fall, already in the first year. They are dark blue, with a waxy coating, up to 5 mm in diameter, sweet in taste, and contain 1-2 seeds. Grows quickly, especially with sufficient moisture. Less frost-hardy than Siberian and ordinary. Easily propagated by seeds when sown in autumn or stratified in spring. It tolerates pruning well, but does not tolerate replanting.

Among the common garden forms juniper virginiana has plants with columnar and pyramidal crowns; with drooping and spreading branches with bluish needles, a rounded spherical crown and bright green needles.

Long-coniferous juniper- tree or shrub. Young shoots are greenish, later - brown, round, glabrous. The bark is scaly-flaky, dark gray in color. The needles are pointed, three in whorls, 15-20 mm long, dark green or bluish, hard, prickly, shiny.

This type of plant has juniper cones, single and in groups, spherical or oval, 5-10 mm in diameter, ripe ones are black, with a faint bluish bloom. Triangular shaped seeds.
This type of juniper is suitable for group and single plantings, for decorative design slopes and rocky places, because it is not picky about soil and moisture. Propagated by seeds.
Forms with a spherical crown and a compact pyramidal bush are known.

Juniper dwarf- it is mainly a shrub up to 1 m tall. Stems are recumbent, rooting. Young shoots are green and bare. The bark of the branches and trunks is brown, on older ones it is scaly and flaky. This variety of juniper has needles in whorls of three, prickly, hard, up to 1 cm long, bluish-green.

Cone berries are single or in groups, almost spherical, 5-10 mm in diameter, mature - black with a bluish coating, seeds including 2-3, wrinkled, tetrahedral.
In garden design, it is suitable for single plantings on lawns, ridges, rocky hills, and for landscaping slopes. It is undemanding to soils.
Among the natural forms of the low-growing species, the most popular are “Glauka” with recumbent branches and bluish-gray needles, as well as the form “Renta” with obliquely upward directed arched branches with slightly bluish-gray needles. Propagated by seeds, cuttings and layering.

Juniper reddish- tree or shrub. Young shoots and needles are green, and later acquire a yellowish color. The bark is brown-gray, flaky. There are two original white stripes on the top of the needles. The shape of the needles is grooved, prickly and shiny.

The cone berries are spherical, 10 mm in diameter, ripe - reddish-brown, shiny, without a bluish coating.
The species is decorative with yellow colored needles and reddish cone berries. It differs from other species in its lack of cold resistance. It is propagated by seeds, of which there are 2-3 per coneberry. They are brown and slightly triangular.

Juniper tall- a tree up to 15 m high. Young shoots are bluish-dark green, compressed tetrahedral, glabrous. The bark of the branches and trunks is brownish-red, peeling off with age. The needles are crosswise opposite, 2-5 mm long, pointed, ovate-lanceolate in shape, rarely needle-shaped, bluish-green.

The cone berries are single, spherical, 10-12 mm in diameter, mature - black with a bluish coating, brown seeds.
Pay attention to the photo of this variety of juniper - it is very decorative, has a beautiful, dense, wide-pyramidal or ovoid crown. Suitable for single and group plantings, grows well on dry rocky slopes.
Like most other types of juniper, it is winter-hardy, drought-resistant, undemanding to the soil, tolerates pruning well, so can be used in borders. Propagated by seeds.

Juniper squamosus- a slow-growing shrub with an oval crown. When young, the crown is rounded, the branches are raised, bluish-green. The needles are needle-shaped, prickly, gray, short, dense, collected in whorls. The fruits are red-brown cones; When ripe in the second year they become almost black.

Various forms of this juniper are grown, among which there are plants with a spherical, vase-shaped, and spread-out crown.

In our gardens this type Juniper is most often found in the form:

"Blue Star" is a shrub 40-45 cm high and a crown diameter of 50 cm with silver-blue and very prickly needles. It looks good on alpine slides, as well as in containers.

It is quite frost-resistant, but often suffers from the spring sun.

Methods of juniper propagation and growing conditions (with photo)

The method of juniper propagation is chosen depending on the species - seeds, green cuttings, layering.

The seeds ripen in cones a year or two after flowering. The cones are left hanging on the tree until sowing. It is better to sow in the fall (November) in the seed furrows, into which it is necessary to add soil from under an adult juniper plant, keeping in mind the introduction of mycorrhiza into the new soil. If sowing is done in the spring, then preliminary stratification of the seeds is necessary in wet sand, in the first month at a temperature of +20...+30°, and then 4 months - at +14...+15°. Substrate for sowing - 1 part sifted turf soil and 1 part pine sawdust.

As shown in the photo, when propagating juniper good results planting green cuttings in greenhouses, and in summer - in greenhouses:

Juniper propagation
Juniper propagation

Green cuttings are indispensable for propagating garden forms. Cuttings are taken with the “heel” only from young plants.

The substrate - 1 part peat, 1 part juniper needle - is placed on a layer of compost, covered with a layer of turf soil, taken from under the juniper plant. Cuttings are sprayed 4-5 times a day. The most suitable time for cutting cuttings is April. For better rooting, cuttings should be treated with a growth stimulant, immersing them for 24 hours in a solution of Epin, Zircon, Ukorenit, Kornevin, Kornerosta or another drug.

One of the main conditions for growing junipers is maintaining the temperature regime. The optimal air temperature during cuttings should be +23...+24° with a relative humidity of 80-83%.

After 1-1.5 months, a thickening appears on the juniper cuttings - callus. Immediately after this, they are transferred to the ridges, where they overwinter.

Caring for and growing junipers is not difficult, since all types of these plants are unpretentious, growing well on a wide variety of soils, including sand and wetlands, but preference is given to light nutrient substrates.

Most species are light-loving, resistant to drought, sudden temperature fluctuations and damage by diseases and pests.

Considering the peculiarities of growing junipers, you cannot dig up the soil under these plants in the fall to avoid damaging the roots. Tree trunk circle should be covered with a layer of fallen pine needles.

When growing juniper in the garden, all types of these plants are unpretentious, that is, they are able to withstand frost and drought, and practically do not require fertilizers or pruning. However, there are certainly secrets to the agricultural technology of growing junipers in culture, as evidenced by their frequent loss of decorativeness, and sometimes sudden death.

Planting a seedling on permanent place is fraught with difficulties, since juniper does not like transplants. The tree for transplantation is dug in a circle and, together with a lump of earth, is transferred to a new place. In this case, the goal is to minimally injure the root system.

To successfully care for juniper, planting dates are determined by root growth. Juniper has two growth periods: early spring (March) and mid-summer (June-July). However, according to weather conditions, the second, summer period is not suitable due to drought. At the same time, planting in the fall may be considered advisable. During the winter, the plant is dormant, and with the beginning of spring it begins to actively take root.

These photos show planting and caring for juniper on personal plot:

Juniper in the garden

Junipers are worthy of widespread use in the design of summer cottages. Their decorative forms are especially picturesque. They are not only beautiful, but by releasing phytoncides, like all conifers, they improve the health of our habitat.

Each of the most common types of junipers has its own specificity and value.

Low-growing forms of junipers are successfully used as ground cover.

Juniper as a silver-blue carpet

Forms such as "Glauka", "Blue Star" And "Old Gold", are capable of creating a beautiful silver-blue carpet under trees and tall bushes.

Pyramid juniper species are usually planted as single plants or in small groups near various architectural structures, as well as on lawns and alpine slides. They are good in a quiet corner formed by trees, herbs and perennials.

Thuja and juniper are so similar that a person who does not have special education, it is quite difficult to understand the differences. Indeed, externally the trees have a lot in common, and first of all, the similarity is manifested in the scale-like needles, which are very different from the usual pine, spruce and fir needles. How is thuja different from juniper and how are they similar? Let's try to understand this in more detail.

Similarities and differences

By the type of needles, thuja cannot be distinguished from most types of juniper. In both plants it has the appearance of scales, characteristic of all cypress trees, and only in young plants - needles. True, some species of juniper retain needle-shaped needles throughout their lives. Differences appear in the shape of the cones and in the size of the plants. Thuja and juniper are characterized by cones of different types. In thuja they are oval or oblong with two or six pairs of scales. And in juniper, the coneberries (that’s what its fruits are called) are predominantly spherical in shape with one or ten seeds in different species.

Thuja in ornamental gardening

The difference between thuja and juniper is clearly visible in the size of these plants. Both juniper and thuja include several species, and these can be both shrubs and trees, often very tall. For example, the tree-like juniper can reach a height of fifteen meters - approximately the windows of the fifth floor. And some types of thuja grow up to seventy meters with a trunk diameter of six meters! Although, of course, the sizes are generally much more modest.

Comparison by position in the taxonomy of the cypress family and distribution in nature

Juniper and thuja are separate genera belonging to the cypress family. Which, in turn, is part of the coniferous plant class. The genus of juniper includes sixty-seven species, the genus of thuja - only five. Some plants, previously attributed by naturalists to the genus Thuja, were later separated into an independent genus of the Cypress family, for example, the oriental flatflower (in Latin Platycladus orientalis).

Branch of young juniper with fruits

The natural habitat of juniper is the Northern Hemisphere from the subarctic regions to the tropics. Thuja is less widespread. The territories where it occurs in the wild are scattered areas temperate zone Northern Hemisphere. Both plants are unpretentious to the soil, therefore they are widely used in landscaping urban areas and in ornamental gardening. Juniper, in addition, has long been used in the food industry: its ground cones serve as spices in cooking various dishes and some alcoholic beverages.