Where does juniper grow? Description, diversity of species
Coniferous evergreen shrubs and trees,which number more than 70 species, belong to the cypress family. Juniper is a plant well known in our country. It is widely used in landscape design.
Many summer residents and owners of country houseswould like to see on their sites these original plantations that have exquisite beauty. True, not everyone knows how juniper grows, what conditions are necessary for it. In this article we will try to answer many questions concerning this culture.
There are two versions regarding the originthe name of the plant. Some researchers are sure that it appeared from the phrase "spruce forest", because in the north the plant prefers sites between spruce plantings. The second version says that it went from the Old Russian word "milk", meaning "knot". Perhaps this hypothesis also has a right to exist, since juniper differs knotted branches and trunk.
Where does juniper grow?
Representatives of this genus are quite widespreadspread from the Arctic to the mountainous subtropical regions. The exception is only Juniperus procera (East African). This species is distributed on the African continent up to 18 ° south latitude.
As a rule, most junipers havea small distribution area. Usually these are certain mountain systems and countries. Widely distributed, perhaps, only juniper is ordinary. Where does juniper tree grow, which can reach a height of fifteen meters? These trees form light forests characteristic of the Mediterranean, Central Asia, the south of North America and the arid regions of Mexico. True, they do not occupy large areas.
If you are wondering where the juniper growssmaller species, we hasten to inform you that it can be found in the undergrowth or in the third tier in light coniferous and deciduous forests. When they are destroyed, pure thickets are formed. The shortest, creeping species can be seen on stony slopes and rocks, at the upper boundary of the forest.
Juniper can be like a shrub,growing up to three meters, and a tree with a height of up to fifteen meters. Much less frequently there are specimens up to thirty meters high. In more severe climatic conditions, the plant can take a stlanic form. In male plants, the crown is dense and columnar, in female plants the denser and oval forms.
Juniper has two types of needles: young plants are covered with green and acicular, very sharp, the length of which is about one and a half centimeters. The branches of adult trees are covered with both acicular and scaly pine needles.
Juniper blooms in May.Male yellow cones have an elongated or spherical shape, and female (green) congregations form small groups. After fertilization, in the first year, female flowers resemble solid brownish balls, and in the second year they acquire the appearance of berries, filled with juice. By the autumn they become dark blue or black-violet, much less often - red-brown, with a light gray bloom.
You already know where junipers grow - in the undergrowth and light deciduous forests (or form independent thickets on the sands). And now we will discuss what conditions are most comfortable for him.
He is absolutely not picky about the soil, becausepowerful roots can extract nutrients and water from the depths of the poorest soils. It is a drought-resistant, shade-tolerant and frost-resistant plant that can withstand frost to -40 ° C. The juniper grows slowly, but it is longevity - scientists claim that some specimens live up to 3000 years.
Many summer residents are interested in how to plantjuniper is correct. First of all, it is necessary to prepare a sunny place for the seedling. Depending on the type of plant, the soil requirements may vary, but in general this is not the most important factor.
Fill the landing pit with a mixture of sand, peat andof the sod land. On wet soils, planting will require drainage. In this case, it is necessary to increase the depth of the pit. At the bottom pour broken brick or crushed stone. When planting, do not bury the root neck.
In arid and dry weather junipers requirerare, but abundant watering, so that the water soaks the soil well. In addition, in the heat it is necessary to sprinkle (sprinkle). This is better done in the evening.
Preparation for winter
Juniper, having an erect crown shape, is tied with a rope in late autumn to exclude the deformation of branches under the weight of snow. The other species do not need special preparation for winter.
Juniper: species and varieties. Gold Coast
This is a low shrub whose shootsare located horizontally. Needles are decorative - golden-yellow, darkening towards winter. The bush likes illuminated places, in the shade development slows down. The crown is dense and sprawling. To the soil and moisture is not exacting. A year the growth of the plant is from five to fifteen centimeters.
This species has a sprawling crown, locatedat an angle to the soil of about 45 °. The name of the coniferous shrub came from mint julep, which in English means "sweet minty cocktail". For the first time the juniper Mint Julep was bred in the nursery of the city of Saratoga Springs (USA).
The advantage of this variety is that iteasily tolerates droughts and severe frosts. The plant can be planted singly or by a group, creating an original coniferous composition. Juniper Juniper has a medium size and undulating crown. By ten years it can reach three meters in width. Another advantage - a very pleasant mint flavor of pine needles. In the US, this variety is considered to be industrial: it feels great in the city, playing the role of hedges.
Juniperus Blue (scaly)
This is a fairly large group.It includes more than two dozen species. They refer to ornamental plants, which are ideal for decorating the landscape. In this article we will introduce the most common of them.
An unpretentious, fast growing shrub. Its height does not exceed one and a half meters, the branches differ in barbed silver-blue needles. The crown is wide and flat. Fruits (shishkoyagody) are dark blue with a whitish bloom. Relatively fast growth allows the use of culture as a ground cover plant to strengthen the slopes and hills.
Shrubs love the sun, are resistant to gas contamination and smoke, well tolerate pruning.
The name of this plant is translated as "bluestar. "Decorative juniper Blue Star - a shrub with a needle-like, scaly needles of a beautiful silvery-blue hue.The crown is thick, semicircular.The Blue Star grows very slowly - by the age of ten it collects no more than forty centimeters in length and in diameter.
The bush is drought-resistant, frost-hardy, undemanding to soils, grows on all dry and well drained, and also on poor soils.
Rocky juniper Blue Arrow its name (translated as "blue arrow")received because of the interesting shape of the crown. Narrow, columnar, it really looks like an arrow. Shoots are tight, tightly pressed to the trunk, vertically growing, a year grow by fifteen centimeters. At the age of ten the plant reaches two and a half meters in height with a width of 0.7 meters.
Needles are scaly, soft, bright blue. Fruits - shishkoyagoda bluish-blue color. The advantage of the variety are low growing lower branches (almost at the base of the trunk).
Juniperus horizontal. Andorra Variegata
Dwarf shrub with divergent rays fromcenter shoots, with slightly raised ends. The main advantage of the species is bright green needles with cream-white dots, and in winter it affects a purple-violet hue. An adult plant with a height of not more than a meter and a half likes sunny areas, it is not exacting to soils.
Another juniper is blue. Shrub in height from thirty centimeters to two meters. It is a creeping plant. This grade belongs to the best in its category. Stretchy shoots on the ground are spreading in different directions, covering the earth with a thick carpet.
Needles silvery-blue, small. In winter it is struck by a gentle lilac shade.
Juniper Cossacks. Arcadia
The bushes are medium in size (2.5 m), the crown is crooked. Needles are light green, soft. It develops well in lighted areas, but can also tolerate a light penumbra. Withstands frosts to -40 aboutS. Initially, it grows in the form of a pillow, but gradually turns into a magnificent carpet, occupying all the larger areas.
The gray-blue needles of these small shrubs (1,2m) in winter you will be surprised by a rare bronze shade. Against the background of a dense cap of pine needles, the brown cones with a waxy coating look very harmonious. The variety is unpretentious and frost-hardy.
Juniperus Chinese. Blaauw
This is a very beautiful plant with a pillowcrown. He likes sunny areas, although he develops well in the light penumbra. Soils are most suitable for drained, light, nutritious, moderately moistened and with neutral reactions. The height of the plant is 1.2 meters.
This is a taller plant (2.1 m). It has a distinctive feature - light yellow spots, scattered along the blue-green crown of the pyramidal shape. Prefers well drained, moist, fresh soils. Can not tolerate stagnant overmoistening. Early spring requires shelter from the sun.
An adult bush height of 2.2 meters is clearly visiblefrom afar, and all thanks to the bright golden young shoots, which contrast with the dark green needles of older branches. This gives the impression of airiness and lightness. The crown is wide, sometimes asymmetrical, round. Looks great in single landings. No less beautiful are such bushes in mixed groups.
Juniper trees are common. Gold Cone
The plant grows to four meters in height. In summer, during active growth, young shoots are painted in a bright yellow color, which turns yellow-green by autumn, and in winter the plant acquires a bronze color. The variety does not tolerate stagnant overmoistening of the soil.
It is not demanding for soils, although it is better not to allow them to be compacted. The first three years the bush needs good care: watering, shelter from the spring sun is necessary.
A small creeping plant (1.5 m) with a soft, not spiny needles of light green color. Excellent for planting on slopes, in stony gardens.
Quite tall bushes (3.1 m) with soft needles of a bluish-green color. The variety is frost-resistant, it feels comfortable in the lighted areas. For the winter, branches should be tied up to prevent them from breaking.