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Tall juniper is an evergreen plant that has been valued since ancient times for its wood and medicinal properties. Unfortunately, in natural growing conditions the species is becoming less and less common, so it was listed in the Red Book. But anyone can grow this mighty tree on their plot all over Russia.
Description of high juniper
Tall juniper belongs to the cypress family, the height of an adult tree is 10-15 m, the trunk diameter is up to 2 m. The young plant forms a pyramidal crown, which becomes spreading with age. Thin rounded-tetrahedral branches are covered with small, numerous leaves of a bluish-emerald hue.
Tall juniper is a monoecious tree that produces single, spherical fruits up to 12 cm in diameter. The berries are purple-gray in color with a thick whitish coating. The plant reproduces by seeds, which are dispersed over long distances by wind, birds and squirrels. Germination rate is low, 20%.
Tall juniper is not a fast-growing plant; by the age of 60, the tree reaches only a meter in height. The average age of life in natural conditions is about 600 years. But there are specimens that are more than one and a half thousand years old.
Where does tall juniper grow in Russia?
In Russia, tall juniper can be found in Crimea, in the Krasnodar Territory, from Anapa to Gelendzhik, in Tuapse. The tree is not afraid of drought, loves rocky hills, mountain belts, from surf zones to half a meter above sea level. There are individuals that grow at an altitude of 2 km above sea level and even higher.
Why is tall juniper listed in the Red Book
The tall juniper was listed in the Red Book of the USSR in 1978, now it is in the Red Book of the Russian Federation with the status of “Vulnerable Species”.
The tall juniper is listed in the Red Book of Russia, as its population is rapidly being exterminated. Reasons for the disappearance of high juniper:
- felling for valuable wood: for making furniture, souvenirs and crafts;
- resort buildings;
- progression of agricultural activities;
- for use in the technical and essential oil industries.
Great loss of numbers was caused during the Second World War and during the construction of the Abrau-Durso road.
If everyone follows these simple rules, the population of this beautiful, medicinal tree will increase, and the air on the planet will become cleaner and more transparent.
Interesting facts about high juniper
The tall juniper has been known since antiquity and has been depicted in myths and legends:
- With the help of a fragrant tree, which has hypnotic properties, Jason and Medea euthanized the serpent guarding the Golden Fleece in Colchis, thereby completing their mission.
- The pine needles give off a smell that cures many diseases, since this tree purifies the air much better than other conifers. Thanks to the healing aroma, ancestors fumigated the room where the seriously ill were located, and the Ancient Romans got rid of an outbreak of cholera.
- Tall juniper is the leader among conifers in terms of the content of bactericidal essential oils. A hectare of juniper forest can disinfect the air in a large metropolis.
- High juniper wood is resistant to rotting. It was used to build basement floors in the famous Genoese fortress in Sudak. Over the 700-year history, the wooden columns have not failed and firmly hold 3 floors, while the stone walls of the tower have long been in need of reconstruction.
Planting and caring for tall juniper
Despite the fact that tall juniper is a heat-loving plant, it has high frost resistance and can withstand temperatures down to -23 °C. Therefore, anyone can plant a tree on their personal plot. But before purchasing a tall juniper seedling, you need to view the photo and read the description.
Tall juniper propagates by seeds and cuttings. Since seed germination is low, cuttings are often used:
- Cuttings are cut in June from the top of the crown, up to 15 cm in size.
- Remove the lower needles and clean the stem.
- The prepared cuttings are kept in the preparation “Kornevin” and buried at an acute angle into nutrient soil.
- For quick rooting, a microgreenhouse is made.
- After rooting, the plant is planted in a lighted place in nutritious soil.
To grow a beautiful plant, it is necessary to observe timely care, which consists of watering and fertilizing.
After watering, loosening and removal of weed and mulching. Mulch will help retain moisture and act as an additional organic fertilizer.
In the spring, nitrogenous fertilizers can be applied for growth and development. In autumn, to better withstand the cold winter, phosphorus-potassium fertilizers are applied.
Juniper does not need pruning. It is carried out only to give the crown a decorative appearance or to create a green hedge. Tall juniper needs regular sanitary pruning. To do this, it is necessary to promptly remove dry, frozen and infected branches.
Tall juniper is a cold-resistant species and can overwinter at a temperature of -23 °C. Young seedlings and trees growing in harsh climatic conditions need shelter. To protect the tree from the cold, you need to carry out simple measures:
- The soil is shed abundantly, fed and mulched.
- The crown is tied from bottom to top with twine in a spiral.
- Cover with spruce branches and cover with breathable material.
Diseases and pests
Unlike other conifers, tall juniper often suffers from the following diseases:
- Rust – a common disease caused by a fungus. The disease appears in early summer due to heavy rains and low air temperatures.Rust can be recognized by slightly raised orange spots that appear on the needles and petioles. Without treatment, the spots crack and fungal spores appear from them, which are quickly transported by the wind to neighboring plants. As a countermeasure, the drug "Arcerida" is used, which must be used once every 10 days until complete recovery.Important! If you are late with treatment, the plant will have to be dug up and disposed of.
- Schutte – the disease mainly affects young plantings in wet weather and dense plantings. In a diseased plant, the color of the needles changes, which eventually die and fall off. To prevent the disease from progressing, it is necessary to promptly remove fallen needles, remove and burn damaged needles. To prevent the disease in the spring, juniper is treated with Bordeaux mixture.
- Alternaria blight - a fungus that affects the root system, as a result of which the needles turn dark brown and the bark becomes covered with a dark coating. The disease often appears due to dense planting. To combat the fungus, damaged branches are removed, treated with Bordeaux mixture, wounds on the branches are treated with copper sulfate and covered with garden varnish.
High juniper in medicine
Tall juniper has found wide use in folk medicine. Since it has a diuretic, sedative, expectorant effect, it treats diseases of the digestive tract, skin diseases and is used in cosmetology.
One of the old and effective methods is treatment with fresh berries. Within 30 days of regular use, they cleanse the blood, strengthen the immune system, relieve swelling and lower blood pressure.
Juniper berries must be consumed on an empty stomach and strictly according to the instructions:
- first day - 1 berry;
- before the 15th day the number of berries is increased to 15 pcs.;
- then the dose is reduced by 1 berry daily.
Recipes known since ancient times
The healing properties of juniper allow it to be used in traditional medicine recipes:
- Decoction. Used as a diuretic and choleretic agent. 1 tsp. pour 250 ml of water and boil for 5 minutes. The finished broth is left for 25 minutes to infuse, filtered in the morning, afternoon and evening, 1 tbsp. l. before eating.
- Juniper tincture. An effective remedy for getting rid of rheumatism, arthritis, arthrosis. The berries are poured with 70% alcohol in a ratio of 1:10. The tincture is put in a dark place and infused in a warm place for at least a week.
- Juniper oil promotes hair growth and strengthening. A mask with added oil smoothes the skin, gets rid of acne and pimples, and gives the skin firmness and elasticity.
Despite its beneficial qualities, juniper can be harmful to the body. It is not recommended in the following cases:
- pregnant and lactating women;
- with liver and kidney failure;
- people with individual intolerance;
- with gastrointestinal disease in the acute stage;
- for diabetes.
Conclusion
Tall juniper is a rare, healing, evergreen tree that can be found not only in wildlife, but also grown in a personal plot. The plant is unpretentious, slow-growing and, subject to proper care, will be an excellent addition to landscape design.
