Juniperus oxycedrus
Prickly 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
- Height
- 15 m
- Fertility
- Self sterile, Wind
- Flower type
- dioecious
- Pollinators
- Wind
Uses
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The plant yields the essential oil 'Oil of Cade' by destructive distillation of the wood[4]. It is used externally in the treatment of skin diseases such as psoriasis and chronic eczema[4]. It is a good parasiticide in cases of psora and favus[4]. Antiseptic[6].
- Product or use
- Antiseptic
- Product or use
- Parasiticide
- Product or use
- Skin
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
An oil distilled from the heartwood is used medicinally and as a parasiticide. It is also used as an immersion oil in microscope work[6].
- Product or use
- Microscope
- Product or use
- Oil
- Product or use
- Parasiticide
Ecology and functions
- Ecosystem niche
- Canopy
Environment
- Range
- Europe - Mediterranean.
- Habitat
- Dry hills, sandy and rocky places[5].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 7+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- 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[7][8]. Soaking the seed for 3 - 6 seconds in boiling water may speed up the germination process[2]. 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][7]. Layering in September/October. Takes 12 months[7].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Succeeds in most soils if they are well drained, preferring a neutral or slightly alkaline soil[1][2] and succeeding on chalk[3]. A drought tolerant plant once established, succeeding in hot dry positions[3]. 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
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00
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