Juniperus recurva (Himalayan Weeping Juniper, Drooping Juniper, Coffin Juniper)

Michael's Opinion

Juniperus recurva is a grand and elegant tree with weeping branches and beautiful, rusty coloured bark.

Botanical Information

FamilyCupressaceae
GenusJuniperus
Speciesrecurva
CategoryWoody
TypeTree (evergreen), Shrub (evergreen)
ReferencesAdams, R. (2004). Junipers of the world: The Genus Juniperus. Vancouver, B.C.: Trafford. Farjon, A., & Filer, D. (2013). An Atlas of the World's Conifers: An analysis of their distribution, biogeography, diversity, and conservation status (p. 524). Brill.
OriginNative to the North of the Himalayas and northern Pakistan east to western Yunnan in southwestern China.
Ethnobotanical Uses
Disclaimer		Timber is used for manufacturing coffins in China and trees are used as windbreaks in the Himalayans.

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone7 - 9
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness Zone7a - 10a
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH5 - H6
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)-17.8 ºC
Temperature (°F)0 to 10 ºF
Height6-10 m
Spread4-6 m
GrowthSlow

Description and Growing Information

General DescriptionA nice elegant form that’s asymmetrical, pointed, and makes a fair-sized tree. With attractive foliage on pendant weeping branches, blue/ green in the summer, turning a much darker green in the winter and with a rusty-brown bark.
ID CharacteristicImpressive, conical form that is a quite distinctive from the rest of the junipers. With its needle-like blue/green foliage that hangs on slim, graceful, weeping branches, and dark purple berry-like cones. Bark is exfoliating orange-brown, which lights up in the evening sun. It is very slow growing producing about 30 cm or more of new growth per year.
ShapeA large shrub or a small tree with an uneven, cone-shaped habit.
LandscapeValued for its drooping, weeping foliage, in the Himalayas the tree is often used as windbreaks.
PropagationUsually propagated by seed, cuttings or grafting. To propagate the Weeping Juniper from seed, it needs to go through a period of cold stratification, followed by a warming period, then a cold spell again, each for about 2-3 months. This is required since the seed has a hard coat and is very slow to germinate. To help speed up the germination process, give the seed a 3-6 second soaking in boiling water. Cuttings can also be taken once wood has matured, collect a 5-10 cm cutting with a heel, during September/October.
CultivationThe Himalayan Weeping Juniper is a tender plant, but can withstand lows to about 10 °F, however it cannot handle extreme temperatures of hot or cold. Tolerant of different pH levels; acid, neutral and basic, but prefers neutral or slightly alkaline in soils that are sandy (light), loamy (medium) to clay (heavy) or chalk. Soil moisture should be well-drained, dry to moist.
PestsRed spider mite infestations are common in warm weather, and must be treated early.
Notable SpecimensWestonbirt, The National Arboretum, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England.
HabitatWoodlands of the wetter areas of Himalayas (altitude of 1800 m to 3900 m), with moist, well-drained soils with a pH of neutral or slightly alkaline. Preferring wet climates and humidity.
Bark/Stem DescriptionBark is rough, orange/ brown which is flaking or exfoliating in long strips.
Flower/Leaf Bud DescriptionOvoid or conical, light green, 1.3 cm long, resinous with loose scales.
Leaf DescriptionThe blue/ green needle-like foliage, approximately 5-10 mm long, hangs down loosely and is arranged in six ranks in alternating whorls of three.
Fruit DescriptionThe cones are a light green turning a glossy dark blue/black berry-like, spherical to egg-shaped as it matures. The cones are light brown, 3-4 mm in length.
Colour DescriptionThe needle-like foliage is bright green in the summer, turning a darker green in the winter, and the cones a glossy dark blue/black. Has rusty orange-brown bark that lights up in the evening sun.
Texture DescriptionHas a coarse texture, and an exfoliating bark.

Photographs