Chinese juniper

Juniperus chinensis

Description

Juniper chinensis is an evergreen conifer shrub growing up to 20 m tall belonging to the cypress family. It has green narrow needle-like foliage and a compact conical form reminiscent of Christmas trees. It produces small blue-black berry-like oblong cones containing small seeds. The cones take 18 months to mature and free the seeds.

Place of origin

China and Japan

Ethnobotanical uses

Juniper chinensis is widely cultivated for ornamental purpose in parks and gardens. It has more than 100 cultivars including small ones used as bonsai. In China, fresh leaves are brewed to obtain a liquor and use it as a tonic to treat coughs with bleeding. The stems are used in the treatment of parasitic skin problems and rheumatism. The root is used in the treatment of burns and scalds. Medicinal uses. The resin, mixed with the resin of Pinus species, is used as a resolvent on tumours.

IUCN conservation status

Least Concern (LC)