Plant Notebook: Juniper

When I took a year off work for self-care, one of the earliest medicines I self-administered was reconnecting with our small garden. It started with sweeping the walkway of shed leaves from the camphor laurel that watches over yard and home, guardian that it is. From there, I became curious about the variety of grasses crowding for sunlight in the relatively small yard. Downloading a simple plant identification application informed me that, among others, growing there was buffalo grass, purslane, and millet (likely from birdseed).

Years earlier, I rescued a plant in a supermarket grow pot that someone had thoughtlessly placed by the dumpster. That dragon tree, rehomed to a container large enough to stimulate growth in response to care, is now taller than I am! How proudly it stands next to an abundance of camellias and Nile lilies, bordered by the rock wall where the occasional snail ambles along. I cannot claim the landscaping, outside of that dragon tree and an asparagus fern at the foot of the camphor. But I consider this yard healing space, and sacred. I go out every morning to bless the yard with incense and invocation.

How affirming to rediscover that gardens are places of healing. And how delightful that they are places of creativity. In our yard, plants appear seemingly out of nowhere, though of course it is not random through the rhythms of the universe. This summer, our yard gave birth to four sunflowers, happy as busy bumblebees, greeting visitors from behind the privet. Also out of nowhere appeared a growth of deadly nightshade. As much as its dark edge appeals to me, I had the gardeners safely remove this toxic plant for the sake of neighborhood dogs who occasionally sniff around the yard, not to mention myself or John lest the leaves (every part of the plant is poisonous) brush against us.

We live in an apartment complex where neighbors come and go. One permanent resident I wondered about was juniper. Juniper is one of the most utilized plants by landscapers and it is hearty in the west, but in our calming jumble of green, we were missing a juniper shrub. I decided to order one. Some junipers can grow in containers, and these well-behaved shrubs are very suitable for small urban gardens and patios.

Juniper is a large family of coniferous trees and shrubs of the genus Juniperus, of the Cypress family Cupressaceae. There are approximately 70 varieties of juniper throughout the northern hemisphere, from towering trees to spreading groundcover to sturdy shrubs. As evergreens, they retain color and signature resiny scent throughout the year. What we know as their distinctive blue-black “berries” are actually seed cones.

Juniper’s roots reach far back in practicality and mythology. Juniper is a symbol of protection in Abrahamic religions in their ancient stories and texts, and its smoke was used as purification for ancient temples. Juniper oil is used to invoke protection and purification even today. Juniper was a known medicinal ally in ancient Egypt, ancient Rome, and during the Plague. Juniper berries were administered to help with stomach and intestinal ailments; this and juniper’s other remedies are included by classic herbalist Nicholas Culpepper in his Complete Herbal. Notably, juniper berries can have an effect on uterine walls, in some cases to induce labor and in some cases causing miscarriage. As always, this is not medical advice. Always seek medical information and attention regarding the medical effects of any plant.

The medicinal properties of juniper berries intersects with their culinary usage: they were used to flavor medicine. As a spice, Juniper berries are used in Scandinavian and British Isle cuisines, but are most famous as the fundamental flavor of gin. Before gin took its seat at the bar, juniper berries were the prime ingredient in genever. This precursor to gin is malty, as one imagines was the whisky that Highlanders reportedly flavored with a hit of juniper.

Juniper trees are common amongst the woods of the Pacific Northwest, and as stalwart citizens of pine and oak forests across the United States and Canada. But juniper grows well in a variety of habitats across the world, including sands, rocky inclines, bogs, slopes, prairies, and heath. In the right habitat and properly cared for, juniper also grows well at the homestead, and that, along with the strong presence that all conifers have, is why landscapers, home gardeners, and bonsai culturists love juniper.

For the urban gardener, dwarf junipers can thrive in containers that are appropriate to plant size and growth, well-drained, and placed in full sun. Most dwarf junipers are suitable for beginner gardeners as long as they know the specific needs of container plants. Juniperus scopulorum 'Moonglow' and Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Point' are reliable starter plants, but there are so many varieties of juniper as tree, shrub, and ground cover that the best way to add juniper to your landscape is to visit your local nursery or county extension office. Ask what junipers thrive in your locality and are appropriate for your space, including containers as recommended for small gardens and yards. Also discuss what care your juniper will require, and suitability for households with pets.

It is appropriate that juniper is a medicinal plant, for gardens and yards are good medicine. Our dwarf juniper arrived today and I cannot wait to introduce it to its new space in our urban garden. It will give so much, only asking in return for caretaking. That is the lesson of gardening – in taking care of others, we are caring for ourselves. Plants are very much alive, and as you spend time in their presence, you can, if you attune respectfully, begin to hear their whispers. Even among the weeds, they speak only of vibrancy, of love, of the healing power of green spaces. Listen closely to juniper – this incredible plant tells ancient tales of reverence, protection, and healing.