Tall juniper

Synonyms: Juniperus macropoda Boiss, Juniperus polycarpos C. Koch., Juniperus isophyllos K. Koch, Greek juniper, Persian juniper

Tall juniper (Juniperus excelsa M. Bieb.) – a species of the genus Juniper (Juniperus) of the cypress family (Cupressaceae). It was first described by Marschall von Beiberstein, F. A. in 1800 in the book «Flora Taurico-Caucasica». In cultivation since 1836.

Photo M. Luchkin

In nature it grows throughout the eastern Mediterranean – from the northeastern part of Greece and southern Bulgaria, through Turkey to Syria and Lebanon, and the mountains of the Caucasus. It also grows in Crimea (Southern Coast of Crimea from Cape Aya to Karadag), and in the Baydar Valley. The subspecies J. excelsa subsp. Polycarpos grows in the mountains of eastern Pakistan (some researchers consider this subspecies a separate species). It grows on sunny dry slopes, especially on calcareous soils, in the lower mountain zones up to 4000 m above sea level. It also grows on scree-stony, poorly developed brown soils, on shales and outcrops of volcanic rocks.

Forms sparse woodlands of the sub-Mediterranean, hemixerophilous type. Grows in dry downy oak and pistachio forests.

It is an evergreen coniferous tree or shrub 10–15 m high. Grows very slowly. Lives up to 200 years. Crown conical, dense, later becoming irregularly rounded or pyramidal, bluish-gray. Root system shallow. Bark scaly, peeling, from dark gray to reddish-brown, furrowed.

Photo V. Papchenkov

Foliage glaucous-green, scaly, 0.1 mm in length, decussate opposite, lying in 4 rows, imbricate, and opposite, growing in 2 rows or on branches of old trees in whorls of 3, with blunt or acute tips, gray-green with long glands. At the tips of shoots the foliage is needle-like, spreading, and long.

Photo S. Banketov

The plant is monoecious. The seed cones (berry-like cones) are spherical, diameter 0.8–1.2 cm, borne on short stalks, dark gray-purple in colour, with a dense glaucous-white bloom. They ripen in the second year after pollination. Scales 4–6, with 6 seeds in each. Seeds are oblong-ovoid, with blunt ribs, chestnut-brown, glossy, the outer upper part wrinkled.

Varieties:

• Juniperus excelsa var. polycarpos (K. Koch) Silba 1984;
• Juniperus excelsa var. farreana P.N. Mehra 1976;
• Juniperus polycarpos var. pendula Mulk. 1967;
• Juniperus excelsa var. depressa
• Juniperus excelsa subsp. excelsa
• Juniperus excelsa var. farreana
• Juniperus excelsa subsp. polycarpos
• Juniperus excelsa subsp. seravschanica
• Juniperus excelsa subsp. Turcomanica
• Juniperus excelsa subsp. seravschanica (Komarov) Imkhanitskaya 1990
• Juniperus excelsa subsp. turcomanica (B.A. Fedtsch.) Imkhanitskaya 1990.

Hardiness: 5-9 (-23°C)

Site: drought-tolerant, undemanding regarding soil and moisture, but prefers fresh clayey and loamy, calcareous and sandy soils. Resistant to urban conditions. Shade-tolerant. Planting: recommended spacing between plants 0.5 or 1.2–2 m. Planting depth – 70 cm. Drainage if necessary: crushed brick or sand, layer 15–20 cm. Soil mix: topsoil, peat and sand in ratio 1:2:1. Transplanting is poorly tolerated even with a root ball.

Care: In spring (April–May) apply nitroammophoska 30–40 g/m2. In a dry summer it is recommended to water the plant 2–3 times per season and to perform evening spraying once a week. Mulch with peat or sawdust in a layer of 5–8 cm.

Pruning: tolerates hard pruning and clipping well, retains its shape for a long time.

Diseases: rust (Arcerid (50 g per 10 l of water) spray 4 times at 10-day intervals), schütte, Biatorrellus and Nectria canker, alternariosis, pear rust fungus.

Pests: aphids (Fitoverm (2 g per 1 l of water) spray 2 times at 10–14 day intervals), leaf-mining moth (Decis (2.5 g per 10 l) spray 2 times at 10–14 day intervals), spider mite (Karate (50 g per 10 l)), scale insect (carbofos (70 g per 10 l of water)), galls, sawfly, shoot moth, pine looper.

Propagation: propagated by seeds and grafting. Seeds require stratification.

Uses: wood is reddish, resinous, hard, slightly decay-resistant, and smells pleasant when burned. In ornamental horticulture it is used for creating hedges, and in solitary and group plantings on lawns.