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Juniperus chinensis
| Family Name: | Cupressaceae |
| Synonyms: | Juniperus gaussenii |
| Common Name: | Chinese Juniper, 圆柏 |
Juniperus chinensis is an evergreen tree with needle-like foliage and a compact conical form reminiscent of Christmas trees! While temperate countries use fir, spruce and pine trees, Juniperus chinensis is a great alternative for tropical Singapore. It does well under full sun with moderate water and is a great addition for the holiday season!
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Gymnosperms (Non-Flowering Seed Plants) (Conifer) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Conical |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | China & Japan |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | An evergreen conifer shrub growing up to 20 m tall; branches ascending with branchlets straight or slightly curved. |
|---|---|
| Crown | Conical form. |
| Trunk | Dark grey-brown bark colour, texture fissured longitudinally. |
| Foliage | Green, needle-like juvenile foliage are narrow, awl-shaped, about 8 mm long, in pairs or in three; adult leaves scale-like, in four ranks, lying flat along stem with opposite arrangement; stiff and pointed branches spread outward at about 45 degree of angle; texture fine. |
| Flowers | Solitary, terminal. |
| Reproductive Parts - non-flowering plant | Cones, pollen cones are yellow, shape oblong-ellipsoidal, measures 4 - 6 mm long and 2 - 3 mm wide. Seed cones are on short stalks, globose-shaped, colour purple-black to purple-brown, 4 - 10 mm in diameter, each cone has 1-4 seeds. |
| Etymology | The genus name Juniperus comes from an ancient Latin name, iuniperus (with cognates such as Juncus, for binding, Geneva and gin). The specific epithet chinensis means from China. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Medicinal: The Chinese obtain a liquor brewed from the fresh leaves and use it as a tonic to treat coughs with bleeding. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Form |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Suitable for Roadsides, Parks & Gardens, Hedge / Screening, Focal Plant, Suitable for Bonsai |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Well-Drained Soils |
| Propagation Method | Stem Cutting |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Scaly |
| Foliar Modification | Reduced / Needle-like |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 4.0 (Tree - Dense Canopy) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Bark Colour(s) | Greyish brown. |
|---|
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Unisexual Flowers , Dioecious |
| Flower Colour(s) | White |
|---|
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Mature Seed Colour(s) | Brown |
| Seed Description | Seeds are ovoid in shape, blunt, keeled, triangular in shape from cross-section view, brown in colour. |
| Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Few (1-5) |
| Plant Sexuality (non-Angiosperm) | Dioecious |
| Cone or Strobilus Type | Arcesthida(Cupressaceae [Juniperus], Ephedraceae [Ephedra]) |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1683 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2976 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |