Juniperus cedrus is closely related to Juniperus oxycedrus L. in the Mediterranean and Juniperus brevifolia (Seub.) Antoine in the Azores[].

Common Name:

General Information

Juniperus cedrus is an evergreen shrub or a tree with a narrow, conical crown when young becoming somewhat columnar and open as it ages; it can grow up to 30 metres tall. The straight bole can be 50 - 120cm in diameter[].
Up to the 19th centruy this species was much exploited from the wild for its valuable timber, but numbers have now been drastically reduced and the wood is generally only used if it has been obtained from cultivation. The tree is often grown as an ornamental, but is not usually grown for its timber because it is too slow growing,
Juniperus cedrus is restricted to the Canary Islands and Madiera. It has been heavily exploited for its valuable timber and it is believed that there are no more than about 600 sexually mature individuals. Regeneration in some subpopulations is poor or absent, possibly due to reduced seed set, the decline of avian dispersers and the effects of grazing. In some locations fires have led to the loss of mature individuals. Together, these factors contribute to a continuing decline in the quality of habitat and number of mature individuals. The plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Africa - Madeira, Canary Islands

Habitat

Laurisilva forest and other high-elevation areas, though mature specimens are restricted to inaccessible cliffs because of over-exploitation; at elevations up to 2,300 metres[]

Properties

Conservation Status	Endangered
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Although native to the mild climates of the Canary Islands and Madeira, Juniperus cedrus is surprisingly hardy and able to tolerate temperatures down to at least -5°c for short periods. It can be grown outdoors in the milder regions of the temperate zone, with a tree growing more than 10 metres tall at Mount Usher in Ireland[].
In the Canary Islands this species has become adapted to different habitats. In Tenerife and La Palma, it occurs at the timberline (2,200 metres), which characteristically has low precipitation and great diurnal temperature variation. In contrast, on La Gomera, which is lower in elevation, (1,150 metres) and has high levels of humidity as a result of the north-east trade winds. In Gran Canaria it only occurs on Montaña del Cedro, where it grows at altitudes between 800 - 900 metres, here the temperatures are relatively warmer[]. The subpopulation on Madeira occurs on exposed rock faces above the laurel forest tree-line above 1,400 metres in elevation[].
A highly attractive species, it is extensively cultivated as an ornamental within its native range, and is used by the forestry service particularly along the Laurissilva Levadas (manmade irrigation channels and pathways)[, ].
A 40 year old plantation at Aguamansa, above Puerto de la Cruz at 1,100 metres shows the potential of this species in the northern cloud belt; already about 15 metres tall (a very fast growth rate for a Juniper), they have telegraph-pole straight trunks to about 15 - 20cm in diameter, longer leaves to 20mm and large (12 mm) cones[].

Edible Uses

The reddish-yellow, subglobose to globose, fleshy seed cones take 18 months to mature; they are 9 - 12mm in diameter, containing three seeds[]. We have seen no reports of any edible uses.

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

Historically the aromatic wood was exploited in the Canaries for its valuable, aromatic timber, and used by local people for construction, in carpentry for making various items of furniture, and also for making boxes and coffins because of the wood's capacity to deter insect pests[, ].
In Madeira the wood was also widely used. Even in the 15th century there were already concerns regarding the overcutting of this species. Restrictions on harvesting, however, were ineffective. There were still some small woods of Juniperus cedrus by the end of the 19th century, but the tree had almost vanished by the first decades of the 20th century. Today the wood is no longer used, unless it is taken from cultivated sources[].

Propagation

The seed requires a period of cold stratification. The seed has a hard seedcoat and can be very slow to germinate, requiring a cold period followed by a warm period and then another cold spell, each of 2 - 3 months duration[, ]. Soaking the seed for 3 - 6 seconds in boiling water may speed up the germination process[]. The seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Some might germinate in the following spring, though most will take another year. Another possibility is to harvest the seed 'green' (when the embryo has fully formed but before the seedcoat has hardened). The seedlings can be potted up into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Grow on in pots until large enough, then plant out in early summer. When stored dry, the seed can remain viable for several years[].
Cuttings of mature wood, 5 - 10cm with a heel, September/early autumn in a cold frame. Plant out in the following autumn[, ].
Layering in September/early autumn. Takes 12 months[].