Irish wildflowers BSBI map

Juniper, Juniperus communis, Aitea
Photographs: Co. Clare and Co. Limerick

Juniper
Juniperus communis subsp. communis
Aiteal
Family: Cupressaceae

Flowering May-June. Evergreen shrub. Native.

Small yellow flowers, the male and female flowers on separate plants (diocoecious). Small, berry-like female cones are bluish-black when ripe. The whorls of needle-like, grey-green leaves have sharply pointed tips. Erect or prostrate growth, prickly branches with flaking red-brown bark

Grows on acidic or basic soils but mainly found on limestone rocks.

BSBI map Juniperus communis subsp. nana is prostrate with wider, bluntly pointed leaves and usually found on acidic soil and rocks.

Juniper, Juniperus communis, Aitea

Juniper, Juniperus communis, Aitea
Juniper, Juniperus communis subsp. communis, Aitea

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