Juniperus drupacea (Syrian Juniper)


Botanical Information

FamilyCupressaceae
GenusJuniperus
Speciesdrupacea
Synonyms Arceuthos drupacea
CategoryWoody
TypeTree (evergreen)
OriginSyria and Turkey.
Ethnobotanical Uses
Disclaimer
The wood may be used due to its decay-resistance. The cones have high levels of sugars and are used in Turkey for marmalade or sometimes as dried fruit. A strong, diuretic oil can be extracted from the fruit and used for flavouring gin.

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone5-8
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness Zone6-9
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH5-H6
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)-23
Temperature (°F)-9
Height15 m
Spread2 m
GrowthFast
Flowering PeriodMarch, April, May

Description and Growing Information

General DescriptionA medium sized tree which grows considerably faster than other junipers. It is one of the tallest Junipers and bears the largest fruit of the genus.
ID CharacteristicIt is a vigorous plant and is easily identifiable by it wide needles and large cones. The pollen cones develop in groups of 3-6.
ShapeBroadly conical with a pointed crown.
LandscapeUsed for screens, hedges, windbreaks, also grown in rock gardens or groupings.
PropagationSeeds require a period of cold stratification and have a hard coat which can cause very slow germination. It requires a cold period followed by a warm period and then another cold spell, each 2-3 months in duration. Cuttings can be taken in September through October and placed in a cold frame, then should be transferred and planted outside the following autumn.
CultivationPlant in full sun and dry-moist soils; it is drought tolerant once established. It can tolerate sandy, loamy, and clay soils as long as the soil is well-drained and neutral to slightly alkaline.
PestsTwig blight, rocky mountain juniper aphid, bagworm, juniper midge, and webworms. This particular Juniper is resistant to honey fungus.
Notable SpecimensWestonbirt, The National Arboretum, Tetbury, Gloucestershire, England.
HabitatUsually found growing in shallow rocky soils in forests or on mountain slopes at an altitude of 600-1,800 m. It occurs in small groups or solitary specimens mixed with other coniferous species.
Bark/Stem DescriptionThe bark is orange-brown when young and then turns ashy-grey as the tree matures.
Leaf DescriptionRigid, spreading or reflexed, oblong to linear-lanceolate. Channelled at the upper surface and keeled at the lower surface. Scales are small and in rows of 7-8, with a sharp pointed apex. Needles are roughly 15 mm in length.
Flower DescriptionStaminate flowers consisting of 5-6 in a head, on a short, scaly stalk. Stamens are 9-12 in each flower.
Fruit DescriptionFruit, 20-25 mm in diameter, ovate and ripens in the second year. The fruit is edible and consists of 6-9 fleshy scales in groups of three. When the fruit develops, it is greenish developing to a blue-violet to brown colour when ripe.
Colour DescriptionNeedles are green with a slight tinge of yellow. The bark is a peeling grey colour and the fruit is a blue-brown.
Texture DescriptionMedium textured plant with pointy needles, but not sharp, with scaly bark.

Photographs