Taxonomy

Division:

Coniferophyta | - Conifers

Family:

Cupressaceae

Genus:

Juniperus

Species:

Juniperus phoenicea

USDA Symbol:

JUPH2

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Shrub

Height:

800 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun

Drought Tolerance:

High

Bloom Months:

mar,apr,may

Landscaping Shrub:

Yes

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:

★★★★☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds, small mammals

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Fragrant:

Yes

Fire Ecology:

Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire

Fire Notes:

Resprouts poorly after fire but regenerates from seed in post-fire conditions. Mature trees with thick bark may survive low-intensity fires.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil

pH:

6.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)

Drainage:

excellent drainage required

Moisture:

dry to moderate

Notes:

thrives in rocky and coastal areas

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 60–120 days

Germination Time:

30–90 days

Notes:

Seeds have deep dormancy; warm stratification followed by cold stratification improves germination. Germination can be erratic.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI