Woody > Juniperus > Juniperus chinensis > Juniperus chinensis
Juniperus chinensis
Chinese Juniper
Origin: China, Mongolia, and Japan; introduced in 1767.
Mike's
Opinion
"
A seldom used or seen plant but the parent of many tough, garden resilient cultivars that were once very popular but have fallen from favour because of their size.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Cupressaceae |
| Genus |
| Juniperus |
| Species |
| chinensis |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Shrub (evergreen) |
| Pronunciation |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 4 – 9 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 2a |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H4 - H7 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| -35 - (-1) |
| Temperature (°F) |
| -30 - 30 |
| Height |
| 15 m |
| Spread |
| 4.5 - 6 m |
Photographs
Cultivars
click to expand
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| Tree or shrub; small round blue berry-like cones; two types of foliage (awl and scale-like) that are green to blue-green to grey-green. |
| Landscape |
| Used as a ground cover, hedge, screen, massing, or specimen depending on the cultivar. |
| Cultivation |
| Easily transplanted; once established there is little maintenance required; tolerant of urban pollution. |
| Shape |
| Tree or shrub; commonly erect, narrow conical but often spreading. |
| Growth |
| Fast |
| ID Characteristic |
| Small pale blue bloomy berry-like cones; blue-green to greyish green coloured. Awl and scale like foliage; yellow to orange-brown flowers in March. |
| Pests |
| Phomopsis and Kabatina blight which causes stem die-back; problems are more cultivar specific; relatively trouble-free juniper. |
| Habitat |
| Found along the shorelines of Northern China and Japan. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Grey-brown; ridges and furrows on mature bark; peels off in thin strips, red-brown patches may be present where bark peels. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| Wedge shaped, needle-like sharp points; 1 cm long; in sets of two or three; arranged in whorls of three or opposite in pairs. |
| Leaf Description |
| Green to blue-green to grey-green; has two types of foliage, adult foliage is scale-like in opposite pairs with bluntly pointed ends; juvenile foliage is awl-shaped or short needle-like to 1 cm long. |
| Flower Description |
| Flowers are yellow to orange-brown, shedding pollen in March; normally specimens have both male and female flowers, but with no ornamental value. |
| Fruit Description |
| Cones are globose; 5 mm–1 cm across; start out as pale blue then ripens to a dark brown; seeds are oblong and glossy brown. |
| Colour Description |
| Leaf colour is blue-green to grey-green, there is no autumn coloured foliage. Flowers are yellow to orange-brown in March; the fruit is white-blue and bloomy at first, then ripens to a dark brown. |
| Texture Description |
| The foliage is a fine and delicate texture; rough bark; smooth berry-like fruit. |
| Notable Specimens |
| University of British Columbia Botanical Garden, Vancouver, British Columbia. |
| Propagation |
| Cultivars of Juniperus chinensis are propagated by cuttings. The species may also be propagated from late winter cuttings taken from new growth 5 – 10 cm long. Seed requires a 3 month cold stratification at 5°C. |
References
Humber Nurseries Ltd., Brampton, Ontario.
top