Common Name: Prickly Juniper

General Information

Juniperus oxycedrus is an evergreen shrub or a tree with a conical crown when young, becoming irregular with age; it usually grows up to 6 metres tall but can reach 10 - 15 metres. The bole can be up to 30cm in diameter[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine, food flavouring and a source of materials. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens.
Juniperus oxycedrus is widespread and locally common in the Mediterranean area. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Throughout the Mediterranean region and east through Turkey and the Caucasus to Iraq and Iran

Habitat

Dry, stony slopes in thin soils over all kinds of rock from calcareous to siliceous and serpentine, occasionally on sand dunes, growing in maquis, garrigue, dry mixed woodland, scrub, also in montane and wetter forest; at elevations to 2,200 metres[]

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	15.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Juniperus oxycedrus is largely restricted to regions with a Mediterranean climate, but in the Balkans and the Iberian Peninsula it may occur in more continental conditions. It requires warm to hot summers in order to thrive and dislikes moist to wet climates. The subspecies badia and oxycedrus are tolerant of frost, unlike the subspecies macrocarpa and transtagana, and have been known to survive temperatures falling to around -15°c for short periods[, ].
Requires an open, sunny position. Succeeds in most soils if they are well drained, preferring a neutral or slightly alkaline soil[, ] and succeeding on chalk[]. A drought tolerant plant once established, succeeding in hot dry positions[].
Prickly Juniper is suitable for cultivation as an ornamental in southern Europe where a number of cultivars, especially with more pendulous foliage, are commonly planted in gardens and parks[]
A dioecious species - both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required.

Edible Uses

The mature seed cones are sometimes used as a flavouring in savoury foods, as condiments and as pickles[]. The brown-red, spherical seed cones take two years to mature; they are around 7 - 12mm in diameter, containing 1 - 3 seeds[].

An essential oil obtained from the wood is sometimes used to give a smoky flavour to foods[].

Medicinal

The plant yields the essential oil 'Oil of Cade' by destructive distillation of the wood[, ]. The oil is antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antiseptic and vulnerary[, , , , ]. It is sometimes used internally to rid the body of worms[]. The oil should not be used internally[].
The oil is more commonly applied externally, diluted with a carrier oil such as almond oil, in order to treat conditions such as haemorrhoids; a range of skin conditions including dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema; and for helping to heal wounds[, , ]. It is a good parasiticide in cases of psora and favus[].
The oil can cause allergic dermatitis in some individuals[].

The seed cones have a diuretic, expectorant and stimulant action[, ]. A decoction is used to help pass kidney stones and to treat catarrh[]
The pounded fruits are applied to the abdomen to treat bloating, abdominal pain, loss of appetite. Make into a wash they are used to treat haemorrhoids[].
The cones contain 1.5% of essential oil[].
Some caution needs to be employed - prolonged usage, or excessive amounts can cause irritation to the kidneys and the urinary tract[].

Extracts of the leaves and stems have been shown to have significant anti-inflammatory effects, whilst some analgesic effects were also noted[]. Spasmolytic properties and effects on arterial blood pressure were also
reported[].

Other Uses

An oil distilled from the heartwood, known as 'Oil of Cade', is used medicinally, in men's scents, as a food flavouring and as a parasiticide. It is also used as an immersion oil in microscope work[, ].
An essentail oil and other extracts obtained from various parts of the plant are used as ingredients in commercial cosmetic preparations for purposes such as skin conditioning, tonics, perfumery and masking the aroma of other ingredients[].

The fresh stems and leaves are burned as an incense in order to control house pests[].

The heartwood is reddish; the sapwood white. The wood is close-grained, hard, very durable. It is highly valued for furniture-making and other carpentry items[]. It is mainly used locally for purposes such as construction and carpentry, whilst the wood has also been used for pencil-making[].
The wood is used for fuel and also to make charcoal[].

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[].