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Juniperus chinensis

Common name:	Chinese Juniper	Family:	Cupressaceae
Author:	L.	Botanical references:	11, 58, 200
Synonyms:	Juniperus sphaerica (Lindl.), Juniperus sheppardii ((Veitch.)Van Melle.)
Known Hazards:	None known
Range:	E. Asia - N.E. China, Japan, Mongolia.
Habitat:	Near seashores in C. and S. Japan[58].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	0	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	2

Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Chinese Juniper [DEN1,P], Kayu Kasturi [E], Kuei [E], Savin [E],
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Pinales. Cypress family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	China Java Nc

Physical Characteristics

An evergreen tree growing to 15m by 3m at a slow rate. It is hardy to zone 4. It is in leaf all year, in flower in April, and the seeds ripen in October. The scented flowers are dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required) and are pollinated by Wind. The plant not is self-fertile. We rate it 0/5 for edibility and 2/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soil. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires dry or moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Woodland, Canopy, Sunny Edge, Ground Cover.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Antirheumatic Haemostatic Hepatic Parasiticide Resolvent.

The stems are used in the treatment of parasitic skin problems and rheumatism[218].
The fruit is used in the treatment of convulsions, excessive sweating and hepatitis[218].
The root is used in the treatment of burns and scalds[218].
The resin, mixed with the resin of Pinus species, is used as a resolvent on tumours[218].

Other Uses

Ground cover Parasiticide.

A number of cultivars are suitable for use as a ground cover, though they are rather slow-growing[208]. They should be spaced about 90cm apart each way[208]. 'Parsonsii' can grow up to 2 metres across, with its branches horizontal to and about 5cm above the ground but never touching the ground[208].

Cultivation details

Succeeds in most soils if they are well drained, preferring a neutral or slightly alkaline soil[1, 11, 200]. Succeeds in chalky soils[200]. Established plants are drought tolerant, succeeding in hot dry positions[200].
A slow growing and rather short-lived tree[185]. The plants produce new growth from early May to the end of August and can make 50cm a year increases in height when young[185].
A very ornamental plant[1], there are many named varieties[200]. The crushed foliage has a rather sour resinous scent[185].
Trees are usually dioecious but occasional monoecious trees occur[11]. Male and female flowers are required if fruit and seed is to be produced.

Propagation

The seed requires a period of cold stratification. The seed has a hard seedcoat and can be very slow to germinate, requiring a cold period followed by a warm period and then another cold spell, each of 2 - 3 months duration[78, 81]. Soaking the seed for 3 - 6 seconds in boiling water may speed up the germination process[11]. The seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Some might germinate in the following spring, though most will take another year. Another possibility is to harvest the seed 'green' (when the embryo has fully formed but before the seedcoat has hardened). The seedlings can be potted up into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Grow on in pots until large enough, then plant out in early summer. When stored dry, the seed can remain viable for several years[1].
Cuttings of mature wood, 5 - 10cm with a heel, September/October in a cold frame. Plant out in the following autumn[1, 78].
Layering in September/October. Takes 12 months[78].

Scent

Leaves: Crushed: The crushed foliage has a rather sour resinous scent.

Cultivars

'Parsonsii': This cultivar can grow up to 2 metres across, with its branches horizontal to and about 5cm above the ground but never touching the ground[208]. it makes a good ground cover[208].

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database
[DEN] Data _ Photos (Good Identification info) from the Virginia Tech's Dendrology Deptarments' Tree Fact Sheets.

References for Juniperus sheppardii (a possible synonym).

[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.

References for the family Cupressaceae.

[CHINA] Data Very detailed botanical/identification info. from the Flora of China.

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

[58] Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965
The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.

[78] Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948
A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.

[81] Rushforth. K. Conifers. Christopher Helm 1987 ISBN 0-7470-2801-X
Deals with conifers that can be grown outdoors in Britain. Good notes on cultivation and a few bits about plant uses.

[185] Mitchell. A. F. Conifers in the British Isles. HMSO 1975 ISBN 0-11-710012-9
A bit out of date (first published in 1972), but an excellent guide to how well the various species of conifers grow in Britain giving locations of trees.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[208] Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990 ISBN 0-460-12609-1
An excellent detailled book on the subject, very comprehensive.

[218] Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.

[245] Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.

Readers Comments

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Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future - Species Database. Copyright (c) 1997-2003.
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