BC Ministry of Forests and Lone Pine Publishing. Juniper oil can help with acne, eczema, and psoriasis when applied topically.Used to help with childbirth and urinary tract infections by some Native American tribes.Diarrhea as well as back and kidney pain are all symptoms of an overdose of juniper since the oils in it are a strong diuretic.Bitter to taste but commonly used in soups, stuffing, gravy, and especially in sauces used on venison.Some species of Juniper can live up to 200 years.Juniper is a popular ingredient in gin as a way to add flavor.Common juniper can be found in a wide variety of areas from around lowland bogs up into subalpine and alpine conditions. (Juniperus communis).Įcology: It grows well in dry open areas like well drained ridges and outcrops. The common juniper begins to make seeds after its second growing season. Junipers like dry open woods, gravely areas, stone outcrops and alpine mountain areas. It is found in Asia, Europe and North America. Mature and immature berry like cones can be found on the same plant but mature berries-if they are not eaten-usually drop in August. The common juniper is the only conifer found all over the Northern Hemisphere. Life History: Common Juniper is a woody perennial it does not lose its needles in the fall and winter and remains green like larger woody perennials such as Douglas-Fir and Western White Pine.įlowering or Cone Bearing Period: Cone bearing is usually year round since the reproductive cycle of common juniper is a two year cycle. Male and female cones grow on separate plants. Immature cones are often covered in a white grey bloom, giving them a light blue color. The berry-like cone is pale green initially and over two years turns a dark blue when it is mature. Reproductive Structure: Common juniper’s produce through wind pollination that produces berry-like female cones that work on a two year cycle, similar to other coniferous woody plants. It is evergreen and will not lose its needles in the fall/winter. They are whitish on the bottom and dark green on top, with old or dying needles turning brown. Leaf Type: The needle is narrow and lance shaped, usually stiff and prickly. Phyllotaxy: It’s needles are arranged on branchlet in a whorled pattern usually with 3 needles per node. Part of it being considered common is because of its wide range of habitat it can be found all across North America from Alaska to Iceland and as far south as Arizona. Though its name makes this plant seem fairly…common, there are 31 juniper plants alone with 5 different varieties in just the Juniperus communis L. In southern New England, the related Eastern Red Cedar ( Juniperus virginiana) - a small to medium-sized tree - is often more common, but as one heads north, Common Juniper increases in abundance.Common Juniper is a relatively simple plant. Where I live, they are often found growing under powerline rights-of-way (though I tend not to gather too much food or medicine from those highly charged, and potentially chemically treated areas). Look for Common Junipers growing in open areas as spreading shrubs. Sharp needles are green on top and flashy white-striped on the bottom My hands got poked repeatedly, and eventually I learned to handle the branches with more care. While gathering the berries, I learned just how sharp the needles on this shrub are. According to Arthur Haines, extracts of this plant can be used to effectively treat staph infection. In about a month, I'll strain out the berries, reserving the alcohol extract, or tincture, for various medicinal purposes. The alcohol will draw out various medicinal properties from the berries, as well as act as a preservative. I set them aside for a couple weeks to dry out, and then yesterday I put them back into a jar and covered them with vodka. Earlier this fall, I gathered a small jar of Common Juniper ( Juniperus communis) berries (technically berry-like seed cones).