Juniperus Chinensis / Chinese Juniper
Chinese juniper is a variable evergreen tree or shrub native to China and Japan. The needle-like or scale-like leaves are green to blue-green and usually hold their color in winter. The small, berry-like fruit (on female plants) ripens from whitish blue to dark brown. Chinese juniper prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Many of its cultivars are common in gardens, where they are used for screening, windbreaks, and hedging.
Succeeds in most soils if they are well drained, preferring a neutral or slightly alkaline soil. Succeeds in chalky soils. Established plants are drought tolerant, succeeding in hot dry positions. A slow-growing and rather short-lived tree.
The plants produce new growth from early May to the end of August and can make 50cm a year increases in height when young.
A very ornamental plant, there are many named varieties.
The crushed foliage has a rather sour resinous scent. Trees are usually dioecious but occasional monoecious trees occur. Male and female flowers are required if fruit and seed are to be produced.
Genus - Juniperus
Species - Chinensis
Common name - Chinese Juniper
Other names - Hollywood Juniper, Kaizuke
Pre-Treatment - Required
Hardiness zones - 4 - 9
Height - 2-60' / 0,60 - 18 m
Spread - 6-20' / 1,80 - 6 m
Plant type - Tree
Vegetation type - Ornamental evergreen
Exposure - Full sun
Growth rate - Medium
Soil PH - Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil type - Loam, sand, well-drained
Water requirements - Average
Landscape uses - Container, Edging, Feature Plant, Foundation, Groundcover, Hedges, Mixed Border, Topiary / Bonsai / Espalier
Leaf / Flower color - Green
Plant growth rate - Medium
