Juniper, common

The common juniper is a scarce tree made famous by the use of its berries in flavouring gin.

What other names does it have?

Can also be known as	Crann Fir (Old Irish) Aiten Melmot Horse-saving Bastard-killer
Generic name	Juniper
Latin name	Juniperus communis
Family name	Cypress
Latin family name	Cupressaceae

What type of tree is it?

Is it a broadleaf or conifer?	It is a conifer
Does it lose its leaves in autumn?	No, it is evergreen

Species description:

Average height	5-10m

Leaf

Description	The leaves are curved and are silver on the inner side. They are sharp and spiny and arranged in groups of three around the stem. When crushed they smell of apples/lemons
Shape	Needle
Size	Up to 1cm long
Colour	Green
Leaf stalk	No stalk
Leaf arrangement	In bunches

Flower, seed, and fruit

Type of flower	Other
Tree/flower sex	Both sexes
Fruit colour	Purplish-black with a white bloom
Fruit season	Autumn
Type of seed body	Berry
Seeds dispersed by	Wildlife

Bark and twig

Bark description	A shaggy bark grey-brown in colour
Twig Description	Red brown in colour

Where is it usually found?

Is it native or non-native to the British Isles?	Native
Where is its natural range?	Britain and Ireland
Preferred soil type or environmental conditions?	It is variable and tolerates a contradictory range of conditions- chalk in the lowlands and acid ground in the highlands. However the tree has specific requirements in order to grow from seed which renders this tree uncommon.
What is its British conservation status?	Rare

Additional information

Human uses of tree and timber

The most famous use of juniper is the as an essential flavouring of gin. More recently the berries have become popular in liqueurs and sauces, particularly for game. The oil extracted from the berries has an ancient reputation as a way of terminating a pregnancy. In fact, juniper pills for this purpose were still being advertised as late as the 1980s. It is also said that the wood burns with little smoke which made it a favourite for illegal distillers!

Tree lore and folklore

In some areas Juniper is considered to be a powerful deterrent against the devil and witches. It was hung over doorways on the eve of May day to keep away evil and burnt on Hallowe’en to ward off evil spirits. It was said that if one dreamt of gathering the berries in winter it foretold prosperity, whilst the berries themselves signified either great honour or the birth of a boy.

Common Juniper

Fruit takes 3 years to ripen

Common Juniper

One white band on inner surface

Illustrations supplied by
Collins

BritishTrees