Care of the tree Juniperus thurifera or Spanish juniper |
The Juniperus genus, Cupressaceae family, comprises 60 species of shrubs and trees native to the Northern Hemisphere. Some species are: Juniperus thurifera, Juniperus squamata, Juniperus phoenicea, Juniperus oxycedrus, Juniperus horizontalis, Juniperus conferta, Juniperus communis, Juniperus chinensis, Juniperus californica, Juniperus osteosperma, Juniperus drupacea, Juniperus x pfitzeriana (hybrid), Juniperus brevifolia. Common name: Spanish juniper. This species is native to the western Mediterranean region. They are dioecious trees with a pyramidal shape (in young specimens) that acquire a rounded or disorderly shape in adult specimens. They are very slow growing plants that reach 8-10 meters. The bark is cracked and peeling off in strips. The evergreen leaves are dark green and take on the appearance of pointed scales. The flowers are not decorative: the female ones have a rounded cone shape and the male ones with small spikes. They bloom in the second half of winter. The fruits take 2 years to mature. They are used as isolated specimens in low maintenance gardens. Juniperus thurifera needs full sun exposure. They resist frosts down to -25 ºC and the intense heat of the Mediterranean summer. The ideal soil for these plants is a stony substrate; excellent drainage is important. They are very low maintenance plants that are maintained with the occasional rains of the Mediterranean climate; it's not necessary to water them. They do not need fertilizers or pruning. They are very resistant plants to the usual pests and diseases. Propagation from seed is a complicated and very slow process; it's better to make cuttings planted in a sandy substrate (use rooting hormones). |
Images of the tree Juniperus thurifera or Spanish juniper |