Juniper
Juniperus communis
IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to current growing conditions this species may be shorter than we usually expect and fall outside of approximations given.
One of only three conifer species native to the UK, common juniper is most often found as a low-growing, spreading shrub or small tree. Its berries are used in the flavouring of gin and have recently become a popular ingredient in liqueurs and sauces.
Juniper estimated full grown height:
Up to 10m
Value to wildlife:
Common juniper provides dense cover for small nesting birds such as the goldcrest and many species will eat its berries including the fieldfare, song thrush and mistle thrush. It is the food plant for caterpillars of many species of moth, including the juniper carpet moth, juniper pug and chestnut-coloured carpet.
Juniper preferred soil type or environmental conditions:
Prefers full sun and most soil types provided they are well drained.
UK and Ireland Sourced and Grown (UKISG):
Every sapling that we provide is UK and Ireland sourced and grown to minimise the risk of importing and spreading tree pests and diseases. Seeds are collected and stored in the UK and Ireland, and they are all coded and batched so that we can track each individual tree.
Learn more about juniper trees on our species information page.
*Juniper was previously unavailable on the Woodland Trust shop due to concerns about the spread of Phytophthora austrocedrae, a fungus-like organism that infects the plant via the roots and causes foliage to decline and eventually die. Restrictions on the sale of juniper are no longer in place as it is thought the disease cannot be transmitted by seed. With the species decreasing in both range and abundance across the UK, we are encouraging planting in a bid to address this decline.
The images in this product listing show the saplings bundled and wrapped. This plastic wrap is made from LDPE (low-density polyethylene) and is 100% recyclable, we encourage users to recycle them when you are ready to plant your trees.
