Juniperus phoenicea - Phoenician juniper (Square vase 9x9x20 cm)

Genus of about 50-60 species of evergreen conifers, shrubs and tall trees, widespread in dry forests and on hill slopes of all regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Juniperus phoenicea is a very long-lived evergreen shrub or small tree that reaches a height of 6-8 m. It has a twisted trunk and rounded or irregular foliage. The bark flakes off into strips in mature specimens and is dark grey-brown in colour. The leaves are green to blue-green, small and scaly and closely resemble those of the cypress. These are arranged in opposite decussate pairs or spirals of three. It is largely monoecious, but some plants are dioecious. The fruits are small galbules that are initially green and become red-brown when ripe. The male cones are 2-4 mm long and disperse their pollen with the wind in early spring.

Pedoclimatic needs

This species tolerates a wide range of soils as long as they are well drained, even poor and stony ones, managing to develop even between rock cracks. It is very resistant to both high temperatures and cold (up to -14°/-16°C) and suitable for hot and sunny places. This juniper also resists wind and salt and colonizes the coastal cliffs reaching up to a few meters from the sea.

Botanical Information

Botanical Name: Juniperus phoenicea

Family: Cupressaceae