Juniperus drupacea
Syrian Juniper
a perennial woody evergreen member of the Juniperus genus in the family Cupressaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Cupressaceae
- Genus
- Juniperus
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Woodiness
- woody
- Growth rate
- moderate
- Height
- 15 m
- Spread
- 2 m
- Fertility
- Self sterile, Wind
- Flower type
- dioecious
- Pollinators
- Wind
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Fruit - raw or cooked. Large and sweet[5][7][2].The cones are about 20 - 25mm in diameter and take 2 years to mature[6].
- Plant part
- Fruit
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Canopy
Environment
- Range
- S. Europe, W. Asia, N. Africa.
- Habitat
- Rocky slopes in forest or scrub, 1000 - 1500 metres in Turkey[11].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 7+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- drought
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- tolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
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[8][9]. Soaking the seed for 3 - 6 seconds in boiling water may speed up the germination process[3]. 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][8]. Layering in September/October. Takes 12 months[8].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in dry soils, tolerating drought once it is established[4]. Succeeds in most soils if they are well drained, preferring a neutral or slightly alkaline soil[3]. Prefers a limestone soil, growing well on chalk, but it also succeeds in very acid soils[6]. Grows well on dry banks[6]. A very ornamental plant[1] that is fairly fast growing for a juniper[9][4]. A tree at Westonbirt Arboretum was 7 metres tall after 23 years[9][4]. This species is resistant to honey fungus[10]. Cones are rarely if ever produced in Britain, could this be due to a lack of female trees?[1] Only male trees have been seen in cultivation in Britain[4]. Seed takes 2 years to mature[6]. Dioecious. Male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Mitchell. A. F. Conifers in the British Isles. HMSO 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-11-710012-9
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00
Rushforth. K. Conifers. Christopher Helm 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7470-2801-X
RHS. The Garden. Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society 1987-00-00
Davis. P. H. Flora of Turkey. Edinburgh University Press 1965-00-00