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Dahurian juniper (stone heather) is an evergreen plant belonging to the Cypress family. In its natural habitat it grows on mountain slopes, coastal cliffs, dunes, and near rivers. Distribution area in Russia: Far East, Yakutia, Amur region, Transbaikalia.
Botanical description of Daurian juniper
Stone heather is a low-growing shrub with creeping branches, growing no higher than 0.5 m. The central trunk of the plant is hidden in the ground, visually the stems are formed from the root, each shoot grows separately, like a separate plant.
Juniper grows slowly, when it reaches five years it is considered an adult, and within a year it gives a slight increase of up to 6 cm. A fully formed shrub reaches 50 cm in height and 1.2 m in width. In a young plant, the shoots rise above the soil, forming a crown in the form of a round dome. When reaching 7 cm, the branches spread along the surface.The culture is a ground cover species, therefore, shoots in contact with the ground take root.
After 5 years of growing season, the growth does not exceed 1 cm per year. Dahurian juniper is a perennial crop that can grow in one area for more than 50 years. The decorative nature of the shrub and its ease of care are used by designers to decorate the landscape. Juniper is a frost-resistant and heat-resistant plant that can go without watering for a long time. In partially shaded areas, vegetation does not slow down.
External description of the Daurian juniper shown in the photo:
- the branches are thin, 3 cm in diameter at the base, tapering at the apex, completely woody, gray in color, with uneven bark prone to peeling;
- the needles are light green, of two types: at the top of the shoot they are scale-like in the shape of a diamond, along the length of the branch they are needle-shaped, collected in whorls of 2 pieces. The needles do not fall off during the winter; in the fall they change color to dark burgundy;
- berries in the form of cones, round, up to 6 mm in diameter, color – dark gray with a brown tint, surface with a silvery coating. Formed in small quantities and not every year;
- juniper seeds have an oblong oval shape, there are 2–4 of them in fruits;
- The root system is superficial, growing to the sides by 30 cm.
The chemical composition of the culture contains essential oils and a number of trace elements. The plant is used as a flavoring agent for alcoholic beverages and cosmetic products.
Daurian juniper in landscape design
Creeping Daurian juniper grows on any soil, even in salt marshes.The frost-resistant plant does not require special care. As it grows, it forms a dense covering of branches that visually resemble a lawn. The upper stems are partially adjacent to the lower ones, leaving no spaces.
The plant is not deciduous; it retains its decorative appearance throughout the year; the bright green carpet changes color to burgundy in the fall. It grows slowly and does not require constant crown formation and pruning. These features of juniper are used for landscaping flower beds near administrative buildings, designing personal plots and park recreation areas.
Creeping crown, short stature, exotic habit, suitable for ground cover design. The culture is used in single and group compositions. Planted next to flowering shrubs to create a lower background. Used as a green accent in the following cases:
- to create the side and central parts of the rock garden, when the juniper located on top cascades down the slope;
- a shrub planted in a rock garden near the central stones is an imitation of a lawn;
- for the purpose of decorating the banks of a small artificial reservoir;
- in flower beds and ridges, juniper grows in a continuous mass, under which there is no weed, is the lower background for flowering crops;
- for decorating borders and rocky slopes on a site or in a park.
Daurian juniper can be found on loggias, cornices or the roof of a building. The plant is first grown in a pot or purchased as an adult.
Varieties of Daurian juniper
Juniper has two varieties. They differ in the shape of the needles and the color of the crown.They grow in the wild in the same climatic zones as stone heather, but are less common than the classic species of Daurian juniper. Varieties are often used in territory design.
Juniperus daurica Leningrad
A variety of the Daurian juniper variety leningrad (“Leningrad”) is a dwarf shrub up to 45 cm tall. The branches creeping along the surface reach a length of 2 m. The young plant forms a cushion-shaped crown, and the grown shoots descend to the surface. At the point of contact with the ground, juniper forms a root.
The variety has thick needles, small needles fit tightly to the trunk of the shoots. The color is light green with a clear blue tint. The crown of the bush is quite prickly. A representative of the species grows well on loam and neutral soils. Until the age of five, it grows 7 cm per year, after which the growing season slows down slightly, the bush grows by 5 cm per season.
The plant prefers open areas and responds well to sprinkling. Leningrad juniper is used to decorate rock gardens, ridges, and borders. In a group composition they are planted with Erica, low-growing pine, roses, and tall forms of heather.
Dahurian juniper Expansa variegata
Horizontal Daurian juniper “Expansa Variegata” is the most decorative representative of its species. A shrub with straight branches, the lower ones are pressed tightly to the surface, the subsequent ones are located on top, it is almost impossible to disassemble the weaves.
The bush grows up to 45 cm in height. The maximum crown size is 2.5 m. Dahurian juniper “Variegata” is characterized by a two-color color: the needles are blue with a light green tint, the main part of the branches with scaly needles is cream-colored.The chemical composition of the bush contains a high concentration of essential oils.
The variety grows in all soil conditions, is frost-resistant, and heat-resistant. Used for landscaping sanitary areas in parks and alpine slides. Planted in ridges and flower beds as a ground cover plant.
Planting Daurian juniper
The best site for planting Daurian juniper is the southern side of the slope, open area or partial shade. In the shade of trees with a dense crown, the plant stretches out, the needles become smaller, and grows poorly. Excess moisture is retained under the dwarf bush, and dry fragments may be observed on the branches. The composition of the soil is neutral or slightly alkaline. A prerequisite is drained, light, loose soil. It is not recommended to plant juniper near fruit trees, as there is a risk of infection (leaf rust).
Preparing seedlings and planting area
Juniper can be propagated by purchasing a seedling, preparing planting material yourself, or by transferring an adult plant to another area. The work is carried out in the spring, approximately in April or autumn, before the onset of frost. A seedling for planting must meet the following requirements:
- the root must be intact, without areas of drying or rotting;
- There should be needles on the branches.
If an adult plant is transplanted to another place, be sure to follow the transfer scheme:
- The branches are lifted from the ground to a vertical position.
- They are gathered into a bundle, wrapped in fabric, and secured with a rope, but it is not recommended to tightly tighten the crown.
- They dig up the bush, retreating 0.35 m from the center, and go deeper by about 30 cm.
- The juniper is removed along with the soil lump.
Place on oilcloth or burlap and remove excess soil from the root.
Before placing the plant in its designated place, prepare the area:
- Dig up the soil and remove weeds.
- Make a planting hole 60 cm wide, 15 cm wider than the root.
- The soil from the pit is mixed with peat and sand.
- Drainage is placed at the bottom; pebbles or crushed stone are suitable.
On average, the planting hole is 60*50 cm.
Landing rules
The root of the seedling is dipped into a growth stimulator for 2 hours. Dolomite flour is added to the mixture of soil, peat and sand at the rate of 100 g per 2 buckets. Juniper responds well to alkali. Landing algorithm:
- 1/2 of the mixture is poured onto the drainage of the planting hole.
- The seedling is placed in the center and the roots are distributed.
- The rest of the soil is poured on top.
- The root circle is compacted and watered.
If an adult plant was transferred, the crown is freed from the tissue and the branches are distributed on the surface. Daurian juniper is placed at intervals of 0.5 m.
Caring for Daurian juniper
The crop is undemanding in agricultural technology; caring for juniper consists of watering, forming the crown and removing weeds.
Watering and fertilizing
For the growing season, the crop requires moderate humidity. Young seedlings are watered with a small amount of water every other day in the evening. The procedures are carried out for 60 days, provided that there is no precipitation. In hot weather, the entire bush is watered using sprinkling method. An adult Daurian juniper does not need watering; moisture is maintained under the crown for a long time. The crop is fed until it is two years old, once in April. Then no fertilizer is applied.
Mulching and loosening
After planting, the juniper root circle is covered with a layer (5-6 cm) of sawdust, pine needles or chopped tree bark. The mulch is renewed every autumn. Loosen the soil and remove weeds near young plantings. For an adult bush, weeding is not relevant; weeds do not grow under a dense layer of branches, and mulch retains moisture and allows oxygen to pass through well.
Trimming and shaping
Daurian juniper is pruned in the spring, frozen branches and dry fragments are removed. If the plant has overwintered without loss, pruning is not required. The bush is formed in accordance with the design decision. The crown of the crop is decorative, grows slowly, if necessary, shorten the length of the branches; one formation per year is enough.
Preparing for winter
At the end of autumn, the juniper is given moisture-recharging irrigation. Increase the mulch layer by 10 cm. Before the onset of frost, young shrubs are collected in a bunch of branches and carefully fixed. The measure is necessary so that the shoots do not break under the weight of snow. Cover the top with spruce branches. You can install low arches and stretch covering material, and in winter throw snow on top. For an adult Daurian juniper, preparation for winter consists only of mulching.
Reproduction
The optimal way to propagate Dahurian juniper is by layering. A young shoot from a two-year growing season is used, fixed to the surface, and covered with soil. The branch gives roots, after a year it can be planted.
The cutting method is less commonly used. The material is cut from the top of three-year-old shoots. Can be propagated by grafting. Daurian juniper material on a trunk of another species takes root in 40%; this method is rarely used.
Sowing seeds produces a plant with full characteristics of the mother variety; the growing process is lengthy, so it is rarely used.
Diseases and pests
Daurian juniper and its varieties emit substances that are toxic to most garden pests. The plant can be parasitized by:
- Aphid. They get rid of it by destroying the ants, cutting and removing the branches where the bulk of the aphids have accumulated.
- Sawfly. The larvae are collected by hand, and the plant is sprayed with Karbofos.
- Shield. Treat with a solution of laundry soap. They create constant moisture in the crown; the pest does not tolerate excess moisture. If the scale insect remains, treat the bushes with insecticides.
- Spider mite. Eliminate the pest with colloidal sulfur.
Without the proximity of apple trees, pears and cherries, the plant does not get sick. If a fungal infection has affected the Daurian juniper, it is treated with products containing copper.
Conclusion
Daurian juniper is an evergreen dwarf ornamental shrub. The frost-resistant crop is undemanding to soil composition and can remain in a sunny area for a long time without watering. Tolerates temporary shading well. Planted as a ground cover plant on a personal plot, in city squares, and recreation areas. Used for decorating borders, flower beds, rockeries and rock gardens.
