Common Name:

General Information

Juniperus saltuaria is an evergreen tree with a dense, pyramidal crown; it can grow from 3 - 15 metres tall[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use of its wood. It has potential for use as a natural insecticide, and is grown as an ornamental in gardens[].
This widespread species occurs in habitats that are not or are only marginally degraded. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - southwestern to central China (Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, NW Yunnan; Tibet)

Habitat

High montane to subalpine coniferous forest, sometimes in more or less pure juniper groves, in the ecotone between forest and alpine meadows; at elevations from 2,100 - 4,600 metres[]

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	8.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Juniperus saltuaria is not a very cold-hardy plant, able to tolerate short-lived temperatures down to around -8°c when fully dormant[].
Found in the wild mainly in rocky areas, such as at the foot of limestone cliffs and crags and in deep gorges, most abundantly on steep sunny slopes, but also found in deeper mountain soils on less steep slopes. This species is not very drought tolerant and needs abundant seasonal rainfall or snowmelt if it is to thrive[].

Edible Uses

The black, egg-shaped or nearly globose seed cones are about 5mm long, containing a single seed[]. We have seen no reports on any edible uses for this plant.

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

An essential oil obtained from the dried leaves and branches is rich in the monoterpenoid compounds sabinene (44%); elemol (13%), terpinen-4-ol (8%), and alpha-pinene (4%). This oil has been shown to be significantly, but weakly, antifungal (against Colletotrichum species) and strongly insecticidal against the azalea lace bug (Stephanitis pyrioides)[].

The wood has been used in construction[].

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[].