Juniper pencil drawing. This amazing juniper. Contraindications and harm

In some botanical reference books, the coniferous juniper tree is referred to as heather, and among the Turkic peoples this plant is called juniper. By tracing the etymology of the genus name in Slavic literature, we can associate this word with the ancient verbs “to weave” and “to knit.” This is one of the longest-living plants, but it renews itself very poorly - human help is required to preserve trees.

Coniferous tree juniper ( Juniperus) belongs to the Cypress family (Cupressaceae). The genus includes more than 60 species, distributed mainly in the mountains of the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. The appearance of plants is very diverse - from large trees to creeping shrubs. Characteristic feature Many species are variable depending on growing conditions: in the lowlands they have a tree-shrub crown shape, and in the mountains - an elfin one.

On this page you can see photos, names and descriptions of different types of junipers, as well as get tips on growing them in the garden.

What juniper looks like: description of the plant and its photo

The leaves (needles) of junipers are very diverse: opposite or whorled, needle-shaped, scale-like, or both. The leaves of young (juvenile) plants are always needle-shaped. Varietal forms of the same species can have needles of any type. The color of needles of different species can vary from green to bluish. In junipers of the subgenus Sabina, the needles change color in winter, acquiring a protective brown tint.

Junipers are dioecious plants, less often monoecious.

Male “flowers” ​​are ovoid on short branches, female flowers are rounded, on short scaly branches, formed at the ends of long shoots. The fruits are in small, round semi-dry berries (cone berries), ripen in the second, less often in the first year.

The genus Juniper is divided into three subgenera, uniting closely related species.

The largest of them is the subgenus Sabina, which, in particular, includes such popular species in gardens as:

• Cossack juniper ( J. sabina)
• Chinese juniper ( J. chinensis)
• Rock juniper ( J. scopulorum)
• Juniper scaly ( J. squamata)
• Juniper virginiana ( J. virginiana)

The second largest subgenus is Juniper (Juniperus), which unites, in particular, such species as:

• Common juniper ( J. communis)
• Coastal juniper ( J. conferta)
• Juniper hard ( J. rigida)

The smallest subgenus, Caryocedrus, includes only one species, the stone fruit juniper (J. drupacea).

Shrub forms of junipers are very characteristic of the mountains of Central and Southern Europe. At the border of the forest and alpine zones they often form extensive thickets. The most common mountain European species are undoubtedly M. cossack (J. sabina) and M. common (J. communis).

Large woody junipers are typical plants of the mountains of Central and Central Asia, where they form groves - juniper trees. This type of juniper received this name from the Turkic name of the tree - juniper. These are mainly M. Turkestan (J. turkestanica), M. Zeravshan (J. seravschanica), M. hemispherical (J. semiglobosa), and M. Turkmen (J. turcomanica). In nature, all these species are extremely hardy and can withstand temperature changes from +40 to -40 °C. Unfortunately, this endurance is not a guarantee of the well-being of junipers in northern gardens, since it directly depends on highly aerated, “breathing” rocky mountain soils.

Look at the photos of junipers of shrub and tree forms:

Creeping species of juniper conifers define the landscape of the highlands. High-mountain dwarf junipers are characterized by an unusual crown development pattern associated with the harsh climate - plant trunks are pressed to the ground, bend between scree stones, and over time completely die off, passing the baton of life to the branches rooted in the rubble. Such populations form vast carpet clumps that live for hundreds of years. Coastal elfin trees are formed in a similar way, but, unlike mountain ones, their trunks and branches are buried not in crushed stone, but in sand.

Typical dwarf species are:

• Juniper horizontal ( J. horizontalis)
• Siberian juniper ( J. sibirica)
• Juniperus daurica ( J. davurica)
• Juniper crowded ( J. conferta)

Types and popular varieties of juniper: photos, names and descriptions

Juniperus chinensis- Chinese juniper.

Grows in China. Mongolia and Japan.

In nature, it is a tree up to 20 m high or a shrub with a free-growing, broadly pin-shaped or creeping crown. Naturally, the size and type of crown depend solely on the growing conditions - the more favorable they are, the larger the plant. It is not surprising that Chinese juniper has a huge number of cultivars.

The branches of natural forms are thin, simultaneously with two types of needles on the same plant - scaly and needle-shaped. The scaly needles are tightly pressed to the branches and have a rhombic shape, while the needle-shaped needles are collected in whorls. The ends of the branches of young growth are straight and covered with scaly needles.

As you can see in the photo, the juniper of “wild” forms is dark bluish-green, while the varietal ones have the most varied, including golden:

Men's and female plants may vary. The fruits (cone berries) are brown with a mealy ring, round, 6-8 mm in diameter. They ripen in the second year. Natural varieties are quite frost-resistant, but in severe winters they freeze slightly. The degree of frost resistance of varieties varies, but most of them are quite resistant.

Many cultivars coniferous plant junipers have a controversial origin, are considered hybrids with Cossack juniper (J. sabina) and are called medium juniper (J. media). Often these varieties are classified as either one species or another, but most often to the Pfitzeriana varietal group, including such popular cultivars as Gold Coast and Old Gold.

In the conditions of the Moscow region they can actively grow. But in unfavorable snowy winters, fractures and broken branches are quite common. When growing these junipers, even well-rooted and overgrown specimens can suffer from the spring sun and drying winds. They feel more comfortable in conditions with high air humidity.

Popular varieties of Chinese juniper:

Juniperus chinensis Expansa Aureospicata

Wide, tiered growth form. The needles are needle-shaped. Grey-green. The branches are pointed, some of them ending in creamy-golden growths. Estimated dimensions at 10 years of age: width 1.5-1.8 m; height 40-60 cm. Completely frost-resistant. Damage to the needles from the rays of the spring sun is possible.

Juniperus chinensis Parsonii

Widely spreading, tiered growth form. The needles are needle-shaped. Grey-green. The branches are pointed. Estimated dimensions at 10 years of age: width 3.0 m; height 50-70 cm. Completely frost-resistant. Damage to the needles from the rays of the spring sun is possible.

Juniperus chinensis Pfitzeriana Aurea

Widely spreading, tiered growth form.

Look at the photo - the needles of the juniper plant are soft, needle-shaped, golden:

The vegetative shoots are bright and turn green over time. The branches are pointed. Estimated dimensions at 10 years of age: width 2.0-2.2 m; height about 1 m. Completely frost-resistant. Damage to the needles from the rays of the spring sun is possible.

Juniperus chinensis Pfitzeriana Blue and Gold

Tiered, pot-like growth form. The needles are soft, needle-like. Gray-blue, with golden spots. The branches are pointed. Estimated dimensions at 10 years of age: width up to 1.5 m; height 1 m. Completely frost-resistant. Damage to the needles from the rays of the spring sun is possible.

Juniperus chinensis Pfitzeriana Compacta

Tiered, creeping, flattened growth form. The needles are soft, needle-shaped, gray-blue. The branches are pointed. Estimated dimensions at 10 years of age: width 1.5-2.0 m; height about 50 cm. Completely frost-resistant. Damage to the needles from the rays of the spring sun is possible.

Juniperus chinensis Pfitzeriana Gold Star

Widely spreading, tiered growth form. The needles are soft, needle-shaped, golden. The branches are pointed. Estimated dimensions at 10 years of age: width 2.0-2.2 m; height is about 1.0 m. When describing the juniper plant of this variety, it is worth noting its complete frost resistance. Damage to the needles from the rays of the spring sun is possible.

Juniperus chinensis Pfitzeriana Golden Saucer

Widely spreading, tiered growth form. The needles are soft, needle-like. Light green-golden. Vegetating shoots are bright and turn green over time. The branches are pointed. Estimated dimensions at 10 years of age: width 2.0-2.5 m; height about 1.0 m. Completely frost-resistant. Damage to the needles from the rays of the spring sun is possible.

Juniperus chinensis Plumosa Aureovariegata

Dwarf form. The needles are green-blue. The branches have white-cream tips and have a somewhat vertical growth direction. Estimated dimensions at 10 years of age: width 60-80 cm; height about 50 cm. Completely frost-resistant. Damage to the needles from the rays of the spring sun is possible.

These photos show varieties of Chinese juniper, the names of which are given above:

Juniperus communis- Common juniper

A highly variable species, distributed in the forests and mountains of Europe, Northern Asia to Northern China and North Africa.

A columnar or pin-shaped tree or a multi-stemmed shrub with a height of 2 to 20 m. Just like many other junipers, the type of crown depends on the growing conditions, so in mountainous areas you can find forms with an elfin crown spread on the ground. The diversity of natural types has led to the emergence of a huge number of cultivars - varieties with different strength and type of crown growth.

Pay attention to the photo - this type of juniper has green, triangular young shoots with longitudinal grooves:

The bark of adult plants is gray-brown and fibrous. The needles are needle-shaped, hard, prickly, collected in whorls of 3 pieces. The length of the needles is 10-15 mm, the color is green with a white stripe in the center.

Male and female plants do not differ in appearance. The fruits (cone berries) are dark gray, as if covered with frost, round, 6-9 mm in diameter. They ripen in the 2-3rd year. Common juniper is one of the most frost-resistant of its kind. Most varieties are also completely frost-resistant, but many columnar forms suffer greatly from the spring sun and require shading.

Juniperus communis Berkshire

Mini variety of common juniper. The needles are prickly, pointed, gray-blue. Annual growth is within 3-5 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Juniperus communis compressa

Mini variety of common juniper. Columnar shape. This variety of common juniper has prickly, pointed, green-blue needles. The branches fit tightly to the trunk. Annual growth is within 3-5 cm. On the south side, it is desirable to shade the plant from the rays of the spring sun. Completely frost-resistant.

Juniperus communis Dr.U.

A narrow-columnar variety of common juniper. The needles are prickly, pointed, green. The branches fit tightly to the trunk. The crown is very dense. Annual growth is within 15-20 cm. It is desirable to shade the southern part of the plant from the rays of the spring sun. Completely frost-resistant.

Juniperus communis Spotty Spreader

A dwarf variety of common juniper. Widely creeping, shrubby form. The needles are soft, green, with irregular white staining. It is desirable to shade the south-facing part of the plant from the rays of the spring sun. Completely frost-resistant.

Juniperus communis Sterling Silver

A dwarf variety of common juniper. Creeping form. The needles are prickly, gray-blue. Completely frost-resistant.

Juniperus communis Suecica Aurea

Mini variety of common juniper. Columnar shape. The needles are prickly, pointed, green-golden. The branches fit tightly to the trunk. Annual growth is within 3-5 cm. It is desirable to shade the southern part of the plant from the rays of the spring sun. Completely frost-resistant, covered with frost, round, 8-12 mm in diameter. They ripen in the 2nd year.

Completely frost-resistant. It has a few varietal forms.

Juniperus conferta All Gold

A dwarf variety of crowded juniper. Creeping form. The needles are prickly and golden. Annual growth is within 5-8 cm. Frost-resistant.

Juniperus conferta- Juniper crowded

It grows on the sands in Japan and on Sakhalin Island, forming dense thickets.

Creeping, strongly creeping shrub, similar to the elfin form of common juniper. When describing this type of juniper, it is worth noting its very long, red-brown branches. The ends of the branches are straight. The needles are light green, needle-shaped, hard, prickly, collected in flat whorls of 3 pieces. Male and female plants do not differ in appearance. The fruits (cones) are dark blue, exactly

Juniperus horizontalis- Juniper horizontal

It grows in the mountains and along the sandy shores of large lakes in North America.

Creeping shrub with long branches tightly pressed to the ground. The branches are numerous and flat. The needles of the natural form are scaly, tightly pressed to the branches; in cultivated forms they are different: scaly, needle-shaped or combined. The color of the needles of the natural form is bluish-green, while the varietal ones are very diverse: green, bluish, golden, variegated.

The fruits (cones) are blue, as if covered with frost, round, 5-6 mm in diameter.

Juniperus horizontalis Blue Pygmy

Micro variety of horizontal juniper. The needles are prickly, green-blue, sometimes silvery, densely located on the branches. Annual growth up to 1 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Juniperus horizontalis Golden Carpet

Creeping form of horizontal juniper. The needles are scaly, golden, light green at the base of the branches. In winter it turns brown. Annual growth within 10 cm, completely frost-resistant. The decoration of the garden will be both a juniper grown on a trunk and hanging from it, and a specimen spreading along the ground.

Juniperus horizontalis Mother Lode

Creeping form of horizontal juniper. The needles are scaly, golden, slightly light green at the base of the branches. During the summer it gradually acquires brownish tones, turning completely brown in winter. Annual growth within 10 cm. Completely frost-resistant. The decoration of the garden will be both a juniper grown on a trunk and hanging from it, and a specimen spreading along the ground. Considered one of the most golden junipers.

Juniperus horizontalis Neuman

Micro variety of horizontal juniper. The needles are prickly, blue-green, sometimes silvery, densely located on the branches. Annual growth up to 1 cm. Completely frost-resistant. Almost indistinguishable from Juniperus horizontalis Blue Pygmy.

Look at the photo - this variety of juniper is considered the smallest:

Juniperus horizontalis Prince of Wales

Creeping form of horizontal juniper. The needles are scaly, green-blue. Annual growth is more than 10 cm. Crown diameter at the age of 10 years is more than 2 m. Completely frost-resistant. The decoration of the garden will be both a juniper grown on a trunk and hanging from it, and a specimen spreading along the ground.

Below are photos, names and descriptions of other varieties of junipers.

Other varieties of junipers: photos, names and descriptions

Juniperus sabina- Cossack juniper

It grows in the mountains of Southern and Central Europe, Siberia, the Caucasus and Asia Minor.

Very variable. In nature, it is a shrub that forms extensive clumps up to 4 m high. The trunks are inclined, the branches are more or less creeping with raised branches of young growth. The old bark is reddish-brown, falling off in patches. The needles of their natural shape are bluish-green, tightly pressed to the branches, combined - needle-shaped and scaly on the same plant. The needles of varietal forms are the most diverse in both shape and color. Male and female plants differ not only generatively, but also in the type of needles - in female specimens the needle type of needles is dominant, and in male specimens the scaly type is dominant. Some varieties are naturally selected forms of either female or male plants, such as the Femina and Mascula varieties.

The fruits (cone berries) are bluish-black, as if covered with frost, round, 5-7 mm in diameter. They ripen the first year in autumn or the second year in spring. Completely frost-resistant.

Varieties of Cossack juniper ten to fifteen years ago were quite common in our gardens. The plant was unpretentious, and most importantly, almost the most affordable. But soon many owners of small plots cooled somewhat towards its acquisition: firstly, it turned out that this juniper high speed growth and significant crown diameter, secondly, others appeared on the market, not so aggressive and at the same time more interesting, rare species and conifer varieties.

Juniperus sabina Variegata

Natural form. One of the branches has a mutating, variegated color.

Juniperus sabina Blaue Donau (synonym - Blue Danube)

Dwarf variety of Cossack juniper. Shrubby, spreading, funnel-shaped form. The branches are pointed and have a vertical direction of growth. When describing this variety of juniper, it is worth noting its beautiful green-blue needles. Annual growth is 20-25 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Juniperus sabina Cupressifolia

Dwarf variety of Cossack juniper. Creeping, spreading form. The branches are pointed, have a vertical direction of growth, and subsequently fall down. The needles are green-blue. Annual growth within 20 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Juniperus sabina Blue Forest

Dwarf variety of Cossack juniper. Dense, creeping, densely apical form. This is one of the best varieties Cossack juniper with short, pointed branches and blue-green needles. Annual growth within 10 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

Juniperus scopulorum-Juniper rocky

It grows in the western regions of North America, on dry spurs of rocks from Texas and Oregon to British Columbia. The species is closely related to Juniperus virginiana, which leads to constant confusion with the identification of varieties of these species.

In nature it is a tree 10-13 m high, often multi-stemmed. The crown is broadly columnar, pin-shaped or unevenly rounded. The bark is dark red-brown. The needles are scale-like, opposite, tightly pressed.

The color of the needles is dark, light or bluish green. The fruits (cone berries) are dark blue, as if covered with frost, round, 5-7 mm in diameter, sweetish. They ripen by the end of the second year.

Both natural and cultivated varieties of this juniper are completely frost-resistant.

Juniperus scopulorum Moonglow

Columnar form of rock juniper. The branches fit tightly to the trunk. The needles are hard, prickly, gray-blue. Dimensions of the plant at 10 years of age: width within 40 cm, height 3.0 m. Frost-resistant. At a young age it can be damaged by the rays of the spring sun.

Juniperus sibirica- Siberian juniper

A typical dwarf species of the highlands and polar regions of Eurasia. Systematically close to M. vulgaris. In nature, it forms extensive carpet thickets, in garden culture- a squat shrub with a wide dense crown. Young shoots are green, triangular with longitudinal grooves. The bark of adult plants is gray-brown and fibrous.

As you can see in the photo, this variety of juniper has needle-shaped, hard, prickly needles, collected in whorls of 3 pieces:

The length of the needles is 5-8 mm, the color is green with a white stripe in the center. Male and female plants do not differ in appearance. The fruits (cone berries) are dark gray, almost covered with frost, round, 6-9 mm in diameter. They ripen in the 2-3rd year.

Rare in cultivation, but promising for securing slopes and decorating large rockeries. It has no cultivars or hybrid varieties.

Juniperus squamata— Juniper scaly

Grows in the Himalayas, Central and Western China. In nature, it is a highly branched, often creeping shrub that forms extensive but loose clumps. The trunks and branches are hard, elastic, covered with gray-brown exfoliating bark. The branches of young growths are long, raised, bluish-green. The needles are needle-shaped, gray, short, dense, prickly, collected in whorls. The fruits (cone berries) are red-brown, turning black over time, ellipsoidal, 6-8 mm long. They ripen in the second year. It is quite frost-resistant, but often suffers from the spring sun.

It has a few but varied cultivars, mainly with bluish-blue needles. The crown shape of varietal forms is very diverse: “vase-shaped” in the Meyeri variety, spherical in Blue Star, creeping in Blue Carpet. These varieties are the most common in cultivation and are “typical” for this type of juniper. Also recommended varieties: Holger, Meyeri, Tropical Blue.

Juniperus squamata Blue Carpet

Wide, creeping form of scaly juniper. The branches are dense, whip-like. The needles are sharp, hard, gray-blue. Annual growth within 10 cm. Frost-resistant. In damp winters it is often damaged by a fungal infection, which can result in damage to the needles of the branches. The spring sun makes the damage worse. Loss of both individual branches and the entire plant is possible.

Juniperus squamata Holger

It is possible that this is a hybrid of scaly juniper and Chinese Pfitzeriana Aurea. Wide, flattened shape. The needles are sharp, turning yellow in spring, later turning gray-blue. At 10 years of age, possible sizes are: 50-70 cm in height and 2.0-2.5 m in width. Frost-resistant. In damp winters it is often damaged by a fungal infection, which can result in damage to the needles of the branches. The spring sun makes the damage worse. Loss of both individual branches and the entire plant is possible.

Juniperus squamata Meyeri

Wide, creeping form of scaly juniper. The branches are dense, whip-like, and raised. The needles are sharp, hard, gray-blue, collected in whorls. Annual growth within 10 cm. Frost-resistant. In damp winters it is often damaged by a fungal infection, which can result in damage to the needles of the branches. The spring sun aggravates the damage. Loss of both individual branches and the entire plant is possible.

Juniperus squamata Tropical Blue

Dwarf form of scaly juniper. Very compact, round shape. The needles are sharp, hard, rich silver-blue color. Annual growth is within 5-7 cm. Frost-resistant. In damp winters it is often damaged by a fungal infection, which can result in damage to the needles of the branches. The spring sun makes the damage worse. Loss of both individual branches and the entire plant is possible.

Juniperus virginiana- Juniper virginiana

The name of this variety of junipers is given by the name of its main distribution area. The trees grow in their natural habitat in the dry, rocky soils of Virginia. They can also be found in wet swampy places in North America - from Canada to Florida. The species is close to J. scopulorum (M. rocky), which leads to constant confusion with the definition of varieties of these species.

In nature it is very variable, but most often it is a tree up to 30 m high. The shape of the crown changes with age - at first narrowly columnar, and later pin-shaped with drooping and horizontally spaced branches. The trunk is up to 1 m thick.

The bark is peeling and varies in color from gray to reddish-brown. The needles are gray, combined - both needle-shaped and scaly on the same plant. Scale-like needles dominate, but needle-like ones are also quite noticeable, especially on old trees, where they reach a length of 10 mm. The scaly needles are opposite, lanceolate or ovate-rhombic, 1-2 mm long.

The flowers are monoecious (male and female on the same specimen). The fruits (cones) are dark blue, shiny, as if covered with frost, almost round, 6 mm in diameter.

Both natural and varietal forms are completely frost-resistant.

It has a few cultivars, but varied in growth type. The most common are the columnar Skyrocket and the spread out Gray Owl.

Juniperus virginiana Gray Owl

A medium-sized variety of Virginian juniper. In youth, it has a prostrate-raised form, which with age becomes very wide and multi-tiered. The branches are whip-shaped, raised. The needles are prickly, gray-blue. Annual growth is within 15-20 cm. Completely frost-resistant.

How to grow juniper in the country: agricultural technology for planting and caring in open ground (with photo)

For planting and successful care For juniper, you need to take care of loose, slightly acidic loamy soils; sandy loam soils are also quite suitable. Dwarf varieties should not be grown in overly rich soils - they may lose their typical crown shape.

When caring for junipers, adult specimens do not require feeding. Young plants can be fed in the spring after the snow melts on wet ground with complex or combined mineral fertilizer in reduced concentration. Fresh manure and feces are strictly excluded.

Junipers are replanted either in the spring before buds open, or in the fall. Deepening the root collar is possible, but undesirable. Young plants and varietal garden forms tolerate replanting easily, but taken from nature - extremely poorly. Large specimens can be replanted only after preliminary preparation root ball

In order to care for junipers as proper agricultural technology suggests, you need to ensure the absence of stagnant and groundwater.

Frost resistance of species varies. Adult specimens are more resistant than young ones. It is possible to build a shelter from frost only for low-growing varietal forms.

As shown in the photo, when caring for junipers, medium-sized specimens are insulated with coniferous spruce branches; for dwarf ones, a “hut” is arranged:

To avoid breaking by heavy snow and loss of shape, lightly tightening the branches of multi-stemmed varietal specimens is necessary.

The use of junipers in garden landscape design (with photo)

It is not surprising that these beautiful and diverse plants have become one of the main ones for the formation of compositions of ornamental gardens in almost all regions of the Earth. Depending on the nature and strength of growth, the type and color of the needles, each of the types and varieties of junipers in landscape design used in its own way. They are good as dominants and solitaires, for creating groups and borders, for planting in mixborders and rockeries. Junipers are indispensable in garden design and for maintaining the constant color of the garden - none of the coniferous genera has such a rich variety of needle colors: all honey mushrooms are green, bluish-white and golden yellow. Junipers tolerate formative pruning absolutely painlessly throughout the year. To restrain growth and make spreading and creeping varieties more compact, it is possible to cut out any branches.

Look at the photo - in garden design, bush junipers and varieties are good for forming trimmed hedges:

Compact multi-topped forms are used for natural, untrimmed hedges and borders. Dense narrow pyramidal varieties are indispensable for creating trimmed columns, arches and spirals. Tall, wide-pyramidal cultivars are convenient for forming trimmed tiered compositions in the Japanese style.

One of the main conditions for growing juniper from seeds is to use only freshly harvested planting material. When stored under normal conditions, germination is lost after 1-2 years.

Seeds should be collected in the fall, as soon as the pine cones ripen. To improve germination, they must be removed from the fruit and washed. The seeds have very hard shells, without breaking which they cannot germinate. In addition, the seed embryo is not ready for germination, as it is at rest. In nature, the process of breaking the integument takes place in the stomach of birds that swallow the seeds, and the awakening of the embryo occurs after a long stay in the soil.

In garden culture for growing juniper, the seeds are scarified, that is, the integument is artificially disturbed. For junipers, the best method is chemical, in which dry seeds are placed in sulfuric acid for 30 minutes and then carefully washed. After this treatment, the seeds are sown in open ground. They germinate by spring.

Another method of seed germination is possible, based on combined stratification, creating ideal conditions to awaken the embryo. Immediately after collecting and cleaning the seeds, they are mixed with coarse, clean, slightly damp sand, sawdust or sphagnum moss, placed in plastic bags and stored for 2-3 months at a temperature of +20 to +30 ° C. Subsequently, the seeds are stored for 3-4 months in the refrigerator or basement at a temperature of +3...+5 °C. During the stratification period, it is necessary to maintain an even, moderate level of substrate moisture and avoid temperature fluctuations.

In spring, stratified seeds are washed and sown in boxes or bowls. The crops are placed in a warm (+18…+23 °C) place, where they germinate. The seedlings are kept in the light, but not in the bright sun, and watered moderately, if necessary they are planted. After hardening in the fresh air, they are planted in a ridge.

To simplify the process, seeds after stratification can be immediately sown in open ground ridges. The combination of chemical scarification with further stratification guarantees a higher germination percentage.

When propagated by seed, varietal varieties weakly repeat characteristic features, and it is very difficult to determine them in the first year. To propagate varietal forms, vegetative propagation is used.

Propagation of junipers in the garden by cuttings (with video)

The method of propagating junipers by horizontal layering does not guarantee the preservation of the crown shape of columnar plants, but it is very good for dwarf forms. Rooting occurs throughout the year.

Cuttings most fully ensure the repetition of all varietal characteristics. However, not all junipers are equally easily propagated by cuttings. Cuttings from young varietal plants root relatively well, and even better are cuttings taken from plants with an elfin crown type. Cuttings of many wild species, especially those taken from old specimens, root very poorly.

Cuttings are carried out in the spring before or at the very beginning of the awakening of the buds. You can do this in the summer, when the young growths have hardened, but in this case the cuttings do not have time to form roots and overwinter only with an influx of callus.

For spring and early summer rooting, mature shoots from last year are suitable; in mid-summer, the growth of the current year is cut off. From columnar and narrow pyramidal forms, only shoots tending upward, but not the strongest, are taken; from creeping ones, everything except vertical ones are taken; from plants with a loose, oval or spherical crown, any cuttings can be taken. The best cuttings are short side branches, taken from the main branch with a piece of old wood - with a “heel”. They are prepared in the morning or in cloudy weather.

To propagate junipers in the garden, cuttings are rooted in boxes filled with a special substrate consisting of coarse washed sand with the addition of perlite in a ratio of 1:1 or 2:1 or high acidic peat (3:1). The cuttings are immersed in the substrate at an angle of 60-70, and in no case should they be turned over with the back side of the branch facing up.

When cutting cuttings in spring, in the initial period, before the buds open, it is necessary to maintain a temperature of +15...+18 ᵒC, and then bring it to +20...+23 °C. It is undesirable to allow sudden temperature fluctuations and raise it above +25 °C. Direct sunlight is especially dangerous for cuttings, so they need to be shaded.

Excessive substrate moisture leads to the death of cuttings. To avoid this, good drainage is needed. However, the combination of a slightly moist substrate with high air humidity stimulates rooting. To improve results, you can use preparations for root formation, strictly adhering to the instructions included with them.

If you care for junipers in your dacha garden as proper agricultural technology suggests, then spring cuttings can take root by mid-summer, and summer cuttings by the end of autumn. But sometimes by autumn the cuttings do not form roots, having only a thickening at the cut site - callus. In this case, they need shelter for the winter. Well-rooted plants are not covered.

Watch the video “Propagation of juniper by cuttings” to better understand how this agricultural technique is performed:

Juniper is an evergreen shrub, also known as heather and juniper. In other languages, the name of this plant sounds like this:

• German– Machandel, Kadding, Knirk, kranawitt;
• English– juniper, common juniper;
• French– genevrier.

Appearance

The juniper bush is usually a tall, thin column up to 12 meters high, with a pointed tip. The leaves of this plant are very distinctive, resembling soft, dense needles, sometimes covered with small scales. Juniper fruits are blue-black berries that botanists actually classify as cones.

Kinds

About 70 species of juniper are described in the scientific literature, but as a spice and medicinal plant Only one of them is used - common juniper. Other types have found application in industry and landscape design. Here are some of them:

• Mexican– an ornamental plant with short needles and small fruits, is a source of essential cedar oil;
• Bermudian– distinguished by gray bark and light green needles, the fruits are covered with a waxy coating;
• Azorean– an endangered species, grows mainly in the mountains;
• Californian– light needles, brown fruits with a blue tinge, grows in the mountains;
• cedar– grows up to 20 meters in height, aromatic oil is made from it;
• Chinese– can reach 25 meters in height, but in the plant’s homeland it is used to form bonsai;
• coastal- creeping, creeping plant, grows mainly in the North,
• Daurian– grows in the mountains in the eastern regions, planted to strengthen the slopes;
• thick-skinned– has an unusual texture of the bark: it is covered with cracks dividing it into small squares;
• stone fruit– has a pyramidal shape, round fruits, used in the production of marmalade.

Where does it grow?

Common juniper prefers to live in temperate climates, so it can most often be found in Europe, the United States of America, the northern regions of Africa and some Asian countries. This plant is also very common in our country. Common juniper grows in western Russia and Siberia. It usually settles on the slopes of mountains and hills, along the banks of reservoirs and in sparse forests.

Blank

The most favorable time for harvesting juniper fruits - from early to mid-autumn. You can pick the berries by hand, or you can use the following method: spread a large piece of cloth under the bush and, clasping the trunk with your hands, shake the tree vigorously. If the fruits are ripe, most of them will fall onto the canvas. Then the berries should be sorted and cleared of debris. Juniper fruits are kept in a dark, well-ventilated room, at a temperature not exceeding 40 degrees. After complete drying, they are sorted again, removing unripe and spoiled berries.

Where and how to choose?

Juniper fruits are sold in herbal stores, pharmacies or large markets. When purchasing, pay attention to the condition of the berries: they should be firm and without signs of damage. If you rub the berry in your hands, the aroma will intensify, but after some time it will weaken again.

Characteristics

• bluish-black color;
• spicy, slightly sour aroma;
• spicy-sweet, slightly bitter taste.

Nutritional value and calorie content

The nutritional value 100 grams of fresh juniper berries:

You can find out more information about the beneficial properties of juniper from an excerpt from the program “1000 and one spice of Scheherazade”

Chemical composition

• essential oil;
• coloring matter;
• resin;
• acetic acid;
• Apple acid;
• formic acid;
• iron;
• aluminum;
• manganese;
• copper.

Beneficial features

• is a valuable source of vitamin C;
• has phytoncidal properties;
• has a diuretic effect;
• disinfects;
• improves digestion;
• produces a choleretic effect;
• is a good expectorant;
• has an anti-edematous effect;
• relieves pain;
• soothes itching and irritation.

Harm

Juniper is a harmless plant, however, if there are contraindications, overdose or individual intolerance, its use can have very unpleasant consequences for the body.

Contraindications

• pregnancy;
• inflammatory kidney diseases;
• exacerbation of chronic gastrointestinal diseases;
• severe hypertension.

Be careful, unripe juniper fruits are poisonous

Oil

Juniper essential oil has a tart aroma with notes of resin and smoke. It is used in cosmetology and aromatherapy. Juniper oil improves the condition of skin and hair and is considered a strong natural aphrodisiac.

• For internal use: Mix half a spoonful of honey with one drop of juniper oil and add a tablespoon of warm water. Drink the resulting mixture in two doses throughout the day.
• For outdoor use: Juniper oil is recommended for spot treatment of acne, eczema, ulcers, scabies, and toothaches; however, it should be taken into account that it can only be used after consultation with your doctor. From our ancestors came the knowledge that juniper oil, added to water for washing floors, disinfects the room.
• For making ointments: pork or badger lard is mixed with juniper oil, in the proportions of 20 drops of oil per 10 g of lard.

Juice

Juice squeezed from fresh juniper fruits ethnoscience recommends use for diseases of the genitourinary system as a diuretic and anti-inflammatory agent.

Application

In cooking

• dried juniper fruits are used for smoking meat and game;
• juniper goes well with lamb and pork;
• juniper berries are added to jars with pickles and marinades;
• Juniper fruits are added to fresh vegetable salads; they go especially well with cabbage and beets;
• juniper is used in the production of confectionery;
• special sugar can be made from juniper berries;
• juniper beer and wine are prepared from the ripened fruits of the plant;
• Juniper berries are used to flavor alcoholic drinks, the most popular of which are gin and vodka;
• Juniper fruits should be added to prepared dishes immediately before serving, as they quickly lose their aroma.

Baked salmon

Place baking paper on a baking sheet and grease it thin layer olive oil. Cut 50 grams of butter into small pieces, place half scattered on a baking sheet. Top with 25 grams of chopped juniper fruit, the zest of one lemon, a bunch of fresh rosemary, salt and pepper to taste. Then prepare 1.2 kg of salmon fillet, drizzle with olive oil, salt and pepper, sprinkle juniper, rosemary and lemon zest on all sides. Place the fish on a baking sheet and top with the remaining butter. Bake at 180 degrees for 20 minutes.

Chicken kebab

Chop the chicken carcass into pieces of the desired size. Prepare the marinade: mix 100 ml dry white wine, 2 tbsp. mustard, chopped rosemary stem, several juniper berries, 1 tbsp. olive oil, salt and pepper to taste. Leave the chicken to marinate overnight. Cook shish kebab on skewers or on a grill, pouring marinade over it.

In medicine

Juniper-based medicines are used to treat and relieve symptoms of a wide range of diseases, including:

• decreased immunity;
• swelling of various origins;
• malaria;
• polyarthritis;
• gout;
• rheumatism;
• discharge from the genital tract;
• cystitis;
• diseases of the genitourinary system;
• digestive disorders;
• respiratory diseases;
• anemia.

In pharmacology, they use juniper bark, berries, pine needles and roots to prepare infusions.

Folk recipes

• For joint pain Juniper baths will help. Brew 200 grams of crushed plant shoots with a liter of boiling water and let it brew for an hour. Then the sediment must be filtered and poured into a warm bath. You should take a bath for about 25 minutes. Carry out the procedure until the symptoms disappear completely.
• For sexual impotence For men, you can prepare an infusion of juniper bark. For these purposes it is best to use the bark young plant. 3 tbsp. put the bark in a thermos, add a liter of warm water and leave overnight. In the morning, pour into a saucepan, cover with a lid and boil for 15 minutes. Then cool and strain. Take half a glass 3 times a day.
• For cystitis good remedy is an infusion of juniper berries. 1 tbsp. pour dried fruits with a glass of boiling water, cover with a lid and leave for several hours. When the infusion has cooled, it should be strained. Take 3 or 4 times a day, 1 tbsp.

At home

• Folk craftsmen make a special paint from the bark and fruits of juniper that has an antiseptic effect, which is used for painting wooden furniture and other items.
• The scent of juniper cleanses and refreshes the air in the room. It is best to use the essential oil of the plant for these purposes.
• Wooden utensils and barrels are still made from juniper. In such containers, food is stored for a long time and does not spoil.

Growing

• It is best to plant seedlings at the age of 3 to 4 years.
• Juniper is planted in early to mid-spring.
• The distance between seedlings is usually from 1.5 to 4 meters.
• The planting hole should be twice as deep as the height of the seedling.
• The root of the plant is sprinkled with earth so that a tubercle about 9 cm high rises above the ground.
• The newly planted tree is well watered and mulched with any breathable material, the layer should be about 11 cm.
• Once every few days, the crown of a young plant must be sprayed with water.
• Every spring the soil should be fertilized with an all-purpose fertilizer.
• Juniper tolerates dry weather well, but if the drought lasts, the plant needs to be watered periodically.
• In the first year of a plant’s life on your site, you should protect it from winter frosts.

Reproduction

There are three ways to propagate juniper:

• Cuttings. For this method, it is best to use plant shoots that are half lignified. Cut them off with a sharp knife, grabbing a piece of bark from the place where the shoot attaches to the trunk. Free the lower 3-4 cm of the shoot from branches and needles. Plant the prepared cuttings in a pot or box filled with substrate.
• Layerings. This method is suitable for creeping species. First, the soil around an adult plant should be prepared: dug up, loosened, fed with peat and sand, and watered. Then select several young shoots and clear an area of ​​about 15 cm long from each of them from needles. Press the cleaned area to the soil using special fasteners.
• Graft. Especially rare varieties of juniper are propagated by grafting them onto more common ones, for example, common juniper. The young shoot is cut from the tree and pressed tightly against a section of another tree with peeled bark. At the junction, the plants are wrapped with a special tape or twine.

• Juniper is a real long-liver among shrubs. Some trees growing on our planet are 600 years old.
• Juniper is a close relative of cypress.
• In the old days, the linen and clothes of patients were soaked in juniper decoction to get rid of infection.

Juniper is a coniferous evergreen plant belonging to the Cypress family. It usually grows as a shrub, reaching 1-3 meters in height. Juniper trees 8-12 meters tall are less common. Valued for its excellent air-purifying properties. The wood is used to make souvenirs; the leaves and berries are used in folk and traditional medicine.

Chemical composition

Most of the beneficial properties of juniper are concentrated in its fruits. Cone berries contain up to 42% sugar, a large amount of coloring matter, and resin. From microelements secrete manganese, iron, copper, aluminum.

The berries also contain a large amount organic acids. The main ones are formic, vinegar, and apple. The needles contain a significant amount of ascorbic acid.

Separately allocate essential oil, contained in all components of juniper. Most of it is in berries - up to 2%, in bark - 0.5%, in branches - 0.25%, in needles - 0.18%. Juniper essential oil contains a large amount useful substances:

• pinene;
• camphene;
• terpinene;
• dipentene;
• phellandrene;
• sabinene;
• terpineol;
• borneol.

This composition makes the essential oil and juniper itself beneficial to health. At the same time, not only the fruits of the plant are valued, but also its other components.

Beneficial features

There are several types of juniper, the beneficial properties of this plant include mainly to ordinary. Cossack, Caucasian and other subspecies are not considered for use in folk medicine.

IN list of medicinal properties juniper include:

• diuretic and choleretic properties;
• disinfectant;
• antimicrobial;
• antipyretic;
• wound healing;
• pain reliever;
• restorative;
• immunostimulating.

Thanks to these properties, all juniper components are actively used in the manufacture of medicines :

• berries are used to improve intestinal function, have diuretic, antiseptic and decongestant properties, improve choleretic and expectorant processes;
• juniper needles are used in the treatment of skin diseases and joint problems, aromatic oils are used as a soothing fragrance;
• the bark of the branches and roots of the plant contains tannins used in the treatment of coughs and the genitourinary system.

The main means of using juniper components are decoctions, infusions, ointments, regular and essential oils.

Benefits for men

Most diseases of the male genitourinary system are caused by bacteria. Usage juniper decoction has an antimicrobial effect, treats infectious prostatitis and urethritis. To prepare the drink use the following recipe:

• a tablespoon of ground bark is poured into a thermos with two glasses of boiling water;
• the mixture is left to brew for 10 hours;
• the solution is poured into a bowl, brought to a boil and simmered for half an hour;
• the resulting decoction is filtered and taken three times a day, half a glass.

For the treatment of prostate adenoma, another recipe:

• prepare a mixture of two tablespoons of juniper, five tablespoons of steel and one tablespoon each of, and;
• the resulting mixture is poured hot water, bring to a boil over low heat;
• the boiled solution is transferred to the previously preheated oven, which is immediately turned off;
• The mixture is simmered in the oven for up to three hours, after cooling, a tablespoon of lemon balm is added to the broth.

Take the resulting medicine 50 ml during the day. Interval - 4 hours. Aromatherapy using juniper soothes increased sexual activity and nocturnal emissions.

Benefits for women

For women's health, juniper is actively used in a variety of preparations. Often these are complex herbal collections of several ingredients, focused on a general strengthening and antiseptic effect.

Preparations based on juniper increase blood flow in the pelvic area, preventing delays in menstruation. Infusions and decoctions help fight infectious and inflammatory processes, promoting vaginal sanitation.

Aromatherapy using juniper helps with menopause. A rapid sedative effect on the female body occurs with neuroses and premenstrual syndrome. This plant is also included in the preparations recommended for inflammation of the appendages.

Juniper uses

Due to its properties, juniper has extensive use in everyday life and folk medicine. Due to their antiseptic properties, branches and leaves are used to steam barrels. They are also used to rub the floors and walls of rooms and to fumigate in case of illness.

An extract is made from juniper fruits, used in cooking and making drinks. Also, a spice is prepared from the berries for better digestion and absorption of foods.

In folk medicine Juniper is used mainly in the form of tinctures and decoctions of berries and bark. Such recipes are used in the following situations:

• infusion of berries is used as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agent for pharyngitis, pyelonephritis, and urolithiasis;
• decoctions of juniper fruits are used for obliterating endarteritis, cold cough, bronchitis, pneumonia and purulent pleurisy;
• baths with a decoction of pine needles are used for neuroses, allergic itching, gout, rheumatism, radiculitis;
• for improved blood circulation and blood composition, it is recommended to chew berries, start with one per day, add another one each day until the number reaches 15, then reduce it in the reverse order;
• juniper oil has a cleansing, analgesic, invigorating and warming effect; it is used in aromatherapy and massage oils, and added to baths;
• essential oil is actively used in the preparation of traditional medicines; it has antimicrobial, expectorant, diuretic and choleretic effects.

Traditional medicine offers a number of recipes for the use of juniper. Depending on the disease, different plant components and additional ingredients will be needed.

Due to contraindications, any independent treatment is recommended to be coordinated with a doctor.

For gout

Gout often develops in men after 40, as well as in women during menopause. It is an accumulation of uric acid salts in the joints. The use of juniper is aimed at relieving pain, removing excess salt from the body and preventing relapses.

Treatment of gout has several ways, often used in combination:

• juniper ointment is rubbed into sore joints for severe pain;
• Regular consumption of juniper berry oil helps remove toxins and waste from the body;
• moisten the compress with alcohol tincture and apply it to the sore area for half an hour.

For rheumatism

For rheumatism, juniper is used in bathing. A simple recipe is as follows:

• 200 grams of berries are poured with two liters of water;
• the mixture is put on fire, boiled for 20 minutes;
• after removal, the broth is allowed to brew for 10-15 minutes;
• the resulting infusion is added to the bath.

Another recipe suggests preparing half a glass of a mixture of berries and chopped pine needles. Pour a liter of boiling water over them, then boil the solution for another 10 minutes. After removing from the heat, the broth is infused for half an hour and added to a bath with warm water.

For ulcers

At peptic ulcer stomach, use juniper decoction. To do this, pour 100 grams of fruit with two glasses of boiling water and leave to settle for several hours.

Then the infusion is strained, sugar is added and placed in a water bath, bringing it to a syrupy state. Use a spoon three times a day.

For diabetes

Juniper berries have a low glycemic index and are considered recommended for diabetes. Their consumption lowers blood sugar levels and improves the absorption of carbohydrates. The positive effect on the general immune system and the course of the disease is also emphasized.

For diabetes mellitus, it is berries that are consumed; the total amount can reach up to 40 pieces per day. During use, you should take into account the overall blood sugar level, as well as recommendations and contraindications for the product.

For allergic reactions

Juniper is considered a natural antihistamine with high content vitamin C. This allows you not only to strengthen the immune system, but also to fight allergies, helping to cleanse the liver and blood, as well as remove toxins from the body.

To relieve rashes and allergic itching, use a bath with the addition of a decoction of pine needles. Compresses using infusion and decoction are also used to treat local manifestations of an allergic reaction, including swelling.

For neuroses

Method of preparing a bath:

• mix a glass of juniper and the same amount of chamomile;
• pour the mixture with half a liter of boiling water;
• allow to cool to room temperature;
• add to a warm bath.

Juniper for such a bath, like chamomile, is purchased at the pharmacy.

As a choleretic agent

For a choleretic effect, chew juniper fruits thoroughly. This method affects the liver, promoting the removal of bile. The formation of sand and stones in the body is also excluded.

Juniper should be used with caution as a choleretic agent. Pay attention to contraindications; the treatment procedure should be agreed with a doctor. Improper use of the product can lead to acute pain in the liver.

For diseases of the kidneys and urethra

At chronic inflammation of the bladder use juniper infusion. To do this, pour 2 teaspoons of dry ground berries into a glass of boiling water. Infuse for three hours. Apply three times a day, a third of a glass.

At metabolic arthritis and inflammation of the urinary tract squeeze juice from ripe berries. Then mix it with honey in a 1:1 ratio and take three times a day.

General prescription for kidney and urinary tract diseases implies mixing in equal proportions juniper fruits, licorice root and bearberry leaves. A tablespoon of the mixture is poured into a glass of boiling water and left for 20 minutes. Take a quarter glass 3-4 times a day as a diuretic, 20 minutes before meals.

For bronchitis

For bronchitis and cough, juniper is considered one of the most popular means for prevention and treatment. At home, hot and cold inhalations are performed.

To do this, the branches or needles of the plant are filled with water and boiled over low heat. Many beneficial properties enter the air, having a beneficial and calming effect on the bronchi and respiratory tract. The room is also disinfected.

To thin sputum and remove it from the lungs, take a tablespoon of decoction before meals. Also, 20-30 ml are filtered and charged into a nebulizer for ten-minute inhalations. This option is especially effective for severe attacks of bronchial cough, relieves spasms and relieves painful sensations.

For upper respiratory tract disease

For diseases of the upper respiratory tract, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, and sore throat, an infusion of ground juniper fruits is prepared. Two tablespoons are poured into a glass of boiling water, wrapped in thick cloth and allowed to cool completely.

To treat chronic pharyngitis, drink the resulting infusion three times a day, 100 ml. For diseases of the throat and gums, gargling is useful. Chewing berries and inhalation also helps.

The use of juniper in cosmetology

The antiseptic, nourishing and healing properties of juniper are widely used in cosmetology. The oil nourishes the skin, saturates and strengthens hair follicles, promotes the healing of small cracks and ulcers.

To strengthen and nourish hair, add 2-3 drops of juniper oil to shampoo when washing your hair. As a result of several such procedures, the hair not only becomes smooth and shiny, but also completely gets rid of dandruff.

Rubbing with juniper oil helps. It also promotes cell regeneration, eliminates acne and makes the skin more elastic and fresh. Juniper baths are used as an additional remedy.

For treatment of skin diseases Juniper is used in the following ways:

• water infusions help in washing cuts, abrasions, burns, cracks, and make compresses if necessary;
• essential oil of juniper leaves is used in recovery after treatment of skin cancer;
• acne and dermatitis are treated with a decoction of a tablespoon of juniper bark, using the resulting product with daily washing.

The use of juniper should be agreed with a specialist. This is due to the list of contraindications that can make the medicine harmful for use.

Contraindications and harm

Contraindications to the use of juniper:

• It is not recommended to use drugs and recipes based on plant components when acute kidney diseases, nephritis, nephroso-nephritis;
• you should also refrain from using it internally for stomach or gastrointestinal ulcers;
• The use of juniper is contraindicated pregnant women- its active substances can cause blood flow to the pelvic area, which can provoke a miscarriage;
• such means are not used and during lactation because of the harm that may be caused to the child;
• juniper-based preparations for children contraindicated until three years old , some experts do not recommend giving them to children at all up to 12 years;
• Excessive consumption can cause severe stress on the cardiovascular system.

Experts also pay attention to the independent collection of juniper. Beneficial features plants differ depending on its type, often the components are more poisonous than beneficial. Before active use, it is recommended to undergo an allergic reaction test..

Coniferous evergreen shrubs and trees, of which there are more than 70 species, belong to the cypress family. Juniper is a plant that is well known in our country. It is widely used in landscape design.

Many summer residents and owners of country houses would like to see these original, exquisitely beautiful plantings on their plots. True, not everyone knows how juniper grows and what conditions it needs. In this article we will try to answer many questions regarding this culture.

History of the name

There are two versions regarding the origin of the name of this plant. Some researchers are sure that it came from the phrase “between spruce forests,” since in the north the plant prefers areas between spruce plantings. The second version says that it comes from the Old Russian word “moloka”, meaning “knot”. Perhaps this hypothesis also has a right to exist, since juniper is distinguished by knotty branches and trunk.

Where does juniper grow?

Representatives of this genus are quite widespread - from the Arctic to mountainous subtropical regions. The only exception is Juniperus procera (East African). This species is distributed on the African continent up to 18° south latitude.

As a rule, most junipers have a small distribution area. Usually these are certain mountain systems and countries. Widespread, perhaps, only Where does tree juniper grow, which can reach fifteen meters in height? These trees form the light forests characteristic of the Mediterranean, Central Asia, southern North America and the arid regions of Mexico. True, they do not occupy large territories.

If you are interested in where smaller species of juniper grow, then 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, clean thickets are formed. The shortest, creeping species can be seen on rocky slopes and cliffs, at the upper border of the forest.

Description

Juniper can be either a shrub growing up to three meters or a tree up to fifteen meters high. Specimens up to thirty meters high are much less common. In more severe climatic conditions, the plant can take on an elfin form. Male plants have a dense and columnar crown, while female plants have a denser and oval-shaped crown.

Juniper has two types of needles: young plants are covered with green and needle-shaped, very sharp ones, the length of which is about one and a half centimeters. The branches of mature trees are covered with both needle-like and scale-like needles.

Bloom

Juniper blooms in May. Male yellow cones are elongated or spherical in shape, while female (green) cones are collected in small groups. After fertilization, in the first year, female flowers resemble hard balls of a brownish color, and already in the second year they take on the appearance of berries, filled with juice. By autumn they become dark blue or black-violet, much less often - red-brown, with a slight bluish tinge.

You already know where juniper grows - in undergrowth and light deciduous forests (or forms independent thickets on the sands). Now let’s discuss what conditions are most comfortable for him.

It is not at all picky about soils, since powerful roots can extract nutrients and water from the depths of the poorest soils. This is a drought-resistant, shade-tolerant and frost-resistant plant that can withstand frosts down to -40 ° C. Juniper grows slowly, but is distinguished by its longevity - scientists claim that some specimens live up to 3000 years.

Landing

Many summer residents are interested in how to plant juniper correctly. First of all, you need to prepare a sunny place for the seedling. Depending on the type of plant, soil requirements may vary, but generally this is not the most important factor.

Fill in landing hole a mixture of sand, peat and turf soil. On wet soils, drainage will be required when planting. In this case, it is necessary to increase the depth of the hole. Broken brick or crushed stone is poured onto the bottom. When planting, do not bury the root collar.

Watering

In dry and dry weather, junipers require rare but abundant watering so that the water wets the soil well. In addition, in the heat, sprinkling (spraying) is necessary. This is best done in the evening.

Preparing for winter

Junipers with an erect crown shape are tied with a rope in late autumn to prevent deformation of the branches under the weight of snow. Other species do not need special preparation for winter.

Juniper: types and varieties. Gold Coast

This is a low shrub whose shoots are arranged horizontally. The needles are decorative - golden-yellow in color, darkening in winter. The bush loves illuminated places; in the shade, development slows down. The crown is dense and spreading. Not picky about soil and moisture. The plant's growth per year ranges from five to fifteen centimeters.

Mint Julep

This species has a spreading crown located at an angle to the soil of approximately 45°. Name coniferous bush comes from mint julep, which means "sweet mint cocktail" in English. The Mint Julep juniper was first bred in a nursery in Saratoga Springs (USA).

The advantage of this variety is that it easily tolerates droughts and severe frosts. The plant can be planted singly or in a group, creating an original Juniper Mint Julep has a medium size and a wavy crown. By the age of ten it can reach three meters in width. Another advantage is the very pleasant mint aroma of pine needles. In the USA, this variety is considered to be industrial: it thrives in the city, serving as a hedge.

Juniper Blue (scaly)

This is a fairly large group. It includes more than two dozen species. They refer to ornamental plants, which are ideal for landscape decoration. In this article we will present you the most common of them.

Blue Carpet

An unpretentious, fast-growing shrub. Its height does not exceed one and a half meters, the branches are distinguished by prickly silver-blue needles. The crown is wide and flat. The fruits (cones) are dark blue with a whitish coating. Relatively fast growth allows the crop to be used to strengthen slopes and hills.

The bushes love the sun, are resistant to gas pollution and smoke, and tolerate pruning well.

Blue Star

The name of this plant translates as “blue star”. Decorative juniper Blue Star is a shrub with needle-shaped, scaly needles of a beautiful silver-blue hue. The crown is dense, semicircular. Blue Star grows very slowly - by the age of ten it gains no more than forty centimeters in length and diameter.

The bush is drought-resistant, frost-resistant, undemanding to soil, grows in all dry and well-drained soils, as well as in poor soils.

Blue Arrow

Blue Arrow got its name (translated as “blue arrow”) due to the interesting shape of the crown. Narrow, columnar, it really resembles an arrow. The shoots are tough, tightly pressed to the trunk, growing vertically, growing by fifteen centimeters per year. At the age of ten years, the plant reaches two and a half meters in height with a width of 0.7 meters.

The needles are scaly, soft, bright blue. The fruits are bluish-blue cones. The advantage of the variety is its low-growing lower branches (almost at the base of the trunk).

Andorra Variegata

A dwarf shrub with shoots diverging from the center, with slightly raised ends. The main advantage of the species is the bright green needles with creamy white dots, and in winter time it strikes with a purplish-violet hue. An adult plant no more than one and a half meters high loves sunny areas and is not picky about soil.

Blue Chip

Another blue juniper. Shrub height from thirty centimeters to two meters. This variety is one of the best in its category. Graceful shoots creeping along the ground spread out in different directions, covering the ground with a thick carpet.

The needles are silver-blue, small. In winter it amazes with its delicate lilac hue.

Cossack junipers. Arcadia

Medium-sized bushes (2.5 m), creeping crown. The needles are light green and soft. It grows well in sunny areas, but can also tolerate light partial shade. Withstands frosts down to -40 o C. At first it grows in the shape of a pillow, but gradually turns into a magnificent carpet, occupying ever larger areas.

Glauca

The gray-blue needles of these small shrubs (1.2 m) in winter will surprise you with a rare bronze tint. Against the background of a thick head of pine needles, brown cones with a waxy coating look very harmonious. The variety is unpretentious and frost-resistant.

Chinese junipers. Blaauw

This is very beautiful plant with a cushion-shaped crown. Loves sunny areas, although it grows well in light partial shade. Soils that are most suitable are drained, light, nutritious, moderately moist and with a neutral reaction. Plant height is 1.2 meters.

Variegata

This is a taller plant (2.1 m). It has distinctive feature- light yellow spots scattered throughout the blue-green pyramidal crown. Prefers well-drained, moist, fresh soil. Does not tolerate stagnant waterlogging. In early spring requires shelter from the sun.

Kuriwao Gold

An adult bush 2.2 meters high is clearly visible from a distance, and all thanks to the bright golden young shoots, which contrast with the dark green needles of older branches. This creates the impression of airiness and lightness. The crown is wide, sometimes asymmetrical, rounded. Looks great in single plantings. Such bushes are no less beautiful in mixed groups.

Common junipers. Gold Cone

The plant grows up to four meters in height. In the summer, during active growth, young shoots are painted bright yellow, which becomes yellow-green by autumn, and in winter the plant acquires a bronze color. The variety does not tolerate stagnant waterlogging of the soil.

It is not picky about soils, although it is better not to allow them to become compacted. For the first three years, the bush needs good care: watering and shelter from the spring sun are necessary.

Green Carpet

A small creeping plant (1.5 m) with soft, non-thorny, light green needles. Excellent for planting on slopes and rocky gardens.

Hibernika

Quite tall bushes (3.1 m) with soft bluish-green needles. The variety is frost-resistant and feels comfortable in illuminated areas. Branches should be tied together in winter to prevent them from breaking.

Summer is not only summer season, sun, vacation, warm sea, but also fresh vegetables, berries and fruits. However, today, when looking at market stalls, the question increasingly arises: is it possible to eat such early watermelons, melons, cucumbers, corn, tomatoes, etc., that have not yet been able to ripen in the open ground? Aren't they dangerous? early vegetables and fruits? Do early watermelons and melons fall into the category of nitrate products that can cause poisoning?

We sowed or planted most of the plants in the spring and it seems that in the middle of summer we can already relax. But experienced gardeners know that July is the time to plant vegetables to obtain late harvest and the possibility of longer storage. This also applies to potatoes. It is better to use the early summer potato harvest quickly; it is not suitable for long-term storage. But the second harvest of potatoes is exactly what is needed for winter and spring use.

Petunia has occupied the first step of the hit parade of the most popular annual plants for decades. It is also valued in urban landscaping, and few private flower beds can do without this bright summer flower. This popularity has reasonable justifications - attractive appearance, variety of shapes and colors, ease of care and long lasting abundant flowering. However, the petunias in our gardens do not always correspond to those depicted on the Internet.

Chickpeas with meat and cheese sauce - incredibly tasty! This dish is suitable for both a regular dinner with the family and a Sunday lunch with friends. It doesn’t take much time to prepare, just a little less than an hour, and the result is worth it. Fragrant meat with sweet young carrots and thick cream sauce- what could be tastier? For the sauce, I recommend hard, spicy cheese - Parmesan, cheddar, and you can use almost any meat, it is important that it is not fatty.

Astrakhan tomatoes ripen remarkably well lying on the ground, but this experience should not be repeated in the Moscow region. Our tomatoes need support, support, garter. My neighbors use all sorts of stakes, tie-downs, loops, ready-made plant supports and mesh fencing. Each method of fixing a plant in a vertical position has its own advantages and “ side effects" I'll tell you how I place tomato bushes on trellises and what comes out of it.

Bulgur with pumpkin is an every day dish that can be easily prepared in half an hour. Bulgur is boiled separately, the cooking time depends on the size of the grains - whole and coarse grinding takes about 20 minutes, fine grinding literally a few minutes, sometimes the cereal is simply poured with boiling water, like couscous. While the cereal is cooking, prepare the pumpkin in sour cream sauce, and then combine the ingredients. If you replace melted butter with vegetable oil and sour cream with soy cream, then it can be included in the Lenten menu.

Flies are a sign of unsanitary conditions and vectors infectious diseases, dangerous for both people and animals. People are constantly looking for ways to get rid of unpleasant insects. In this article we will talk about the Zlobny TED brand, which specializes in fly repellents and knows a lot about them. The manufacturer has developed a specialized line of products to get rid of flying insects anywhere quickly, safely and at no extra cost.

The summer months are the time for hydrangeas to bloom. This beautiful deciduous shrub produces luxuriously fragrant flowers from June to September. Florists readily use large inflorescences for wedding decorations and bouquets. To admire the beauty flowering bush hydrangeas in your garden, you should take care of the proper conditions for it. Unfortunately, some hydrangeas do not bloom year after year, despite the care and efforts of gardeners. We will explain why this happens in the article.

Every summer resident knows that plants need nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for full development. These are the three main macronutrients, the deficiency of which significantly affects appearance and plant yield, and in advanced cases can lead to their death. But not everyone understands the importance of other macro- and microelements for plant health. And they are important not only in themselves, but also for the effective absorption of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

Garden strawberries, or strawberry, as we used to call it - one of the earliest fragrant berries, which summer generously bestows upon us. How happy we are about this harvest! In order for the “berry boom” to repeat every year, we need to take care of the berry bushes in the summer (after the end of fruiting). The laying of flower buds, from which ovaries will form in the spring and berries in the summer, begins approximately 30 days after the end of fruiting.

Spicy pickled watermelon is a savory appetizer for fatty meat. Watermelons and watermelon rinds have been pickled since time immemorial, but this process is labor-intensive and time-consuming. According to my recipe, you can simply prepare pickled watermelon in 10 minutes, and by the evening the spicy appetizer will be ready. Watermelon marinated with spices and chili can be stored in the refrigerator for several days. Be sure to keep the jar in the refrigerator, not only for the sake of safety - when chilled, this snack is simply licking your fingers!

Among the variety of species and hybrids of philodendrons, there are many plants, both gigantic and compact. But not a single species competes in unpretentiousness with the main modest one - the blushing philodendron. True, his modesty does not concern the appearance of the plant. Blushing stems and cuttings, huge leaves, long shoots, forming, although very large, but also a strikingly elegant silhouette, look very elegant. Philodendron blushing requires only one thing - at least minimal care.

Thick chickpea soup with vegetables and egg is a simple recipe for a hearty first course, inspired by oriental cuisine. Similar thick soups are prepared in India, Morocco, and Southeast Asian countries. The tone is set by spices and seasonings - garlic, chili, ginger and a bouquet of spicy spices, which can be assembled to your taste. It is better to fry vegetables and spices in clarified butter (ghee) or mix olive and butter in a pan; this, of course, is not the same, but it tastes similar.

Plum - well, who isn’t familiar with it?! She is loved by many gardeners. And all because it has an impressive list of varieties, it’s surprising excellent harvests, pleases with its diversity in terms of ripening and a huge selection of color, shape and taste of fruits. Yes, in some places it feels better, in others it feels worse, but almost no summer resident gives up the pleasure of growing it on his plot. Today it can be found not only in the south, in the middle zone, but also in the Urals and Siberia.

Many decorative and fruit crops, except for drought-resistant ones, they suffer from the scorching sun, and conifers in the winter-spring period suffer from sunlight, enhanced by reflection from the snow. In this article we will tell you about a unique product for protecting plants from sunburn and drought - Sunshet Agrosuccess. The problem is relevant for most regions of Russia. In February and early March, the sun's rays become more active, and the plants are not yet ready for new conditions.