| PSC 2620: Woody Trees and Shrub | Course Home | Week 12 |
Juniperus chinensis - Chinese Juniper
Plant Viewer
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| Mature leaves are scale-shaped and gree. | The bark exfoliates in strips and is gray-brown in color. |
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| Blue berry-like fruits form on the plant. |
Plant Description
Juniperus chinensis, or Chinese Juniper, is a tall upright evergreen tree, but there are many shrub cultivars. It grows 50-60 feet high and 15-20 feet wide, typically developing a slender but irregular outline. It can occasionally form a smaller and bushier large shrub. Unlike many other species of Juniperus, Chinese Juniper prefers moister soil conditions, though it becomes more drought tolerant with maturity. The bark is gray-brown in color and exfoliates in strips. Mature bark develops ridges and furrows.
The foliage is green to grayish-green in color and composed of small needles, awl-shaped when young and scale-shaped when mature. The awl-shaped young leaves are 1/3 inch long and form in a trio and arranged in whorls. The mature leaves are scaled in 4 ranks around the stems and very short (1/16 inch long).
Chinese Juniper has both male and female fruit. The male cones are brown and are usually to be found only on mature branches. They are profuse on the tree. The small female berries are a silvery-blue color.
Landscape Use
The regular species can be used in tight columnar spaces to provide some winter access. There are several smaller varieties than are suitable for ground covers or foundation plantings.
Notable Cultivars
Sea Green
A medium sized shrub form of Chinese Juniper. It grows 4-6 feet high and 6-8 feet wide. The foliage is a bright and minty green color.
Spartan
An upright variety that grows 12-16 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide. It has a good tapering form and dense habit. Image: University of Florida
