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what is the difference between a juniper and a cypress tree

by Missouri Kirlin Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Juniper vs Cypress: Conclusion
Cypress needs more sun than juniper to grow and stay healthy. Cypress needs a robust watering system, unlike the drought-resistant juniper. Juniper can endure chill winds, but a cypress needs the windbreak of other trees. Juniper rarely needs pruning, but for cypress, it is a must.

Full Answer

What is the difference between Cedar and cypress trees?

What Is Red Mulch?

  • Organic Red Mulch. Some organic mulch is produced from the bark material of redwood, pine, cedar, or cypress trees, which is harvested in the lumber milling process.
  • Inorganic Red Mulch. ...
  • Red Mulch Standard Uses. ...
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Are cedar and juniper trees the same?

Cedars and junipers are both evergreen coniferous trees belonging to the plant order Pinales. They have many traits in common and are easily confused, in part because some trees commonly referred to as cedars are actually junipers. To sort out the confusion, it helps to take a closer look at the defining qualities of each tree.

What is a juniper plant or tree?

and the trees make an excellent spot for nesting birds. Spartan junipers are narrow, pyramidal to columnar. They can be versatile, used in planting as a hedge, screen or even as a single specimen. This type of juniper does not like wet feet, thriving in ...

Is the juniper tree deciduous or evergreen?

The Blue Point Juniper is an outstanding upright evergreen, with strongly-colored blue foliage. It grows steadily, adding at least 6 inches a year, so it will soon be a striking specimen on your lawn, or part of the varied planting around your home.

How do you tell if a tree is a juniper?

A helpful way to perfect juniper tree identification is by looking at its cones. Juniper cones on male trees are small and either yellow or tan. The female plants produce colorful berries, which are actually modified cones. Northwest species berries turn blue at maturity, but some species have red berries.

What is another name for juniper tree?

Common Juniper (Juniperus communis)

Is Leyland cypress a juniper?

They are evergreen conifers that belong to the genus Juniperus in the cypress family. The common name of cypress is more involved. The name applies to several cypress family genera: true cypress (Cupressus spp.), cypress or false cypress (Chamaecyparis spp.) and Leyland cypress (x Cupressocyparis leylandii).

What's the difference between a juniper and a cedar?

Eastern Red Cedar is very closely related to the Common Juniper, in fact they are in the same genus. The key obvious difference is that Juniper seldom grows as a tree, whereas Red Cedar nearly always does.

What is special about a juniper tree?

The juniper tree represents the practice because it holds to emulate the tree in strength, wisdom, usefulness and beauty. The strength of the juniper tree is seen in its capacity to survive in harsh and bare climates, growing out of rocks and surviving in areas with very little water.

Is juniper a bush or tree?

What Is Juniper? Junipers are coniferous trees or shrubs (meaning they bear seeds that are cones) belonging to the genus Juniperus and the cypress family Cupressaceae. They have needle-like or scale-like leaves and the female plants produce berry-like cones.

Is juniper a cedar?

Junipers are trees belonging to the genus Juniperus. Some of these trees, despite being junipers, are commonly referred to as cedars, such as Juniperus bermudiana, which is commonly known as the Bermuda cedar.

Do all junipers smell?

What do the Wild Western junipers smell like? Juniperus californica produces a woody, cedar smell from both its foliage and its wood. Juniperus communis smells like gin. Some of the Far Western species of juniper smell of both; it depends upon where you sniff.

How many types of cypress trees are there?

cypress, any of 12 species of ornamental and timber evergreen conifers constituting the genus Cupressus of the family Cupressaceae, distributed throughout warm-temperate and subtropical regions of Asia, Europe, and North America.

Why are junipers called cedars?

Why are they called cedars? Texas were termed cedars due to their resemblance to the cedar trees of Europe. botanists and other picky plant people. As a diecious tree, junipers have male and female plants.

How can you tell cypress from cedar?

The Cedrus libani (Lebanon cedar) has dark green foliage, while the blue atlas and deodar cedars typically have needles with a blue-grey hue. The Italian and Monterey cypresses have uniformly dark green foliage, though the Arizona variety comes in shade of green, blue-gray, and silver, depending on the variety.

Is juniper a pine tree?

Juniper belongs to the pine family (Cupressaceae).

Meet the Cypress

The Cypress genus, Cupressus, has a rich history steeped in mythology and ancient beliefs. Hellenic tradition stated that these trees were sacred to the gods, which is why they were often planted by graves and still are to this day. It’s also used as a symbol for grieving.

Meet the Juniper

There are about 67 species of Junipers worldwide in the Juniperus genus, which are also native to most parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Some additional regions include the Arctic, western and central Asia, and Tibet. It has many cultural and ornamental purposes in society, and it’s seen as one of the easiest to grow as a bonsai.

Juniper vs. Cypress: Similarities

With the quick introductions out of the way, we can now focus on the similarities of Juniper vs. Cypress. You’ll see the many ways they are alike before we head into the ways to tell them apart. We love performing this detailed investigation, as the comparison reveals the close connection between them.

Juniper vs. Cypress: Differences

Now that you know what Junipers and Cypresses have in common, it’s time to look at the specific differences. We’ll try to go into as much detail as possible so you can more easily tell them apart. It will help you look after your bonsai trees better so that they can thrive.

Final Thoughts

Many people have discussed Juniper vs. Cypress debate to length, but it’s undeniable that they both serve as gorgeous bonsais. They’ll grace any home and collection with beauty, especially when the berries and cones are in full display. We recommend you obtain as many species from both genera as possible that can handle your location.

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What is a juniper?

Talking about junipers (Juniperus spp.) is relatively uncomplicated. They are evergreen conifers that belong to the genus Juniperus in the cypress family. The common name of cypress is more involved. The name applies to several cypress family genera: true cypress (Cupressus spp.), cypress or false cypress (Chamaecyparis spp.) and Leyland cypress (x Cupressocyparis leylandii). And then there's the deciduous bald cypress (Taxodium spp.) of the closely allied taxodium family. Both junipers and cypresses are native to the Northern Hemisphere and are appealing in the landscape, whether as ground covers, borders, bushes or trees.

How tall do junipers get?

Cupressus spp. are usually shrubs or trees that grow from 15 to 131 feet tall. Horticultural forms of Chamaecyparis range from trees growing 50 to 75 feet tall to dwarf varieties that reach only 3 to 5 feet tall.

How big are Cupressus cypresses?

Cupressus fruits are ball- to oval-shaped, from 1/3 to 1 1/2 inches wide when mature, with four to 14 scales that release small, winged seeds. Chamaecyparis have inconspicuous 1/3 inch diameter cones that ripen from blue-green to reddish-brown. Leyland Cypress produce dry, brown fruits less than a half inch wide.

What color are juniper leaves?

Junipers have two kinds of leaves, small, scale-like leaves pressed closely against the stems and needlelike ones. Foliage color varies from yellow, gold or white leaves to dark to light green, gray, silver and blue, making junipers versatile landscaping plants.

Where are cypress trees native to?

And then there's the deciduous bald cypress (Taxodium spp.) of the closely allied taxodium family. Both junipers and cypresses are native to the Northern Hemisphere and are appealing in the landscape, whether as ground covers, borders, bushes or trees.

What is the color of cypress?

Color ranges from yellow- to dark-green and gray. Chamaecyparis spp. display a variety of leaf forms, including eedlelike, threadlike, and scales but pointed leaves.

What are the berries on a juniper called?

Pine Cones and Berries. The fleshy female cones of junipers are frequently called juniper berries. The basic colors of reddish-brown or bluish-green often have a waxy gray coating. The berries are important to wildlife, and humans enjoy some of the fruits in food and beverages.

What is a juniper tree?

any shrub or tree of the genus Juniperus of the cypress family; characterized by pointed, needle-like leaves and aromatic berry-like cones.

Is a cypress a coniferous tree?

is that cypress is an evergreen coniferous tree with flattened shoots bearing small scale-like leaves, whose dark foliage is sometimes associated with mourning, in family cupressaceae, especially the genera cupressus'' and ''chamaecyparis while juniper is any shrub or tree of the genus juniperus of the cypress family; characterized by pointed, needle-like leaves and aromatic berry-like cones.

What is a creeping juniper?

Blue Chip creeping juniper is a tough ground-cover with a softer blue tone than Blue Star. When young it resembles a starfish, and with somewhat diligent pruning it can be kept this way. Better to plant it where it has room to roam, and it will fill in and make a lovely, low-water grass substitute. Like many other junipers, its colors changes seasonally (see, we told you that they weren't boring!) so that it is a deeper blue in colder temperatures and greens up a bit in summer. Here is a shot of the same group in warm weather:

What color is Juniperus horizontalis?

Like many other junipers, its colors changes seasonally (see, we told you that they weren't boring!) so that it is a deeper blue in colder temperatures and greens up a bit in summer. Here is a shot of the same group in warm weather: Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Chip' in summer. Photo by Janice LeCocq. 3.

What is the best juniper for zone 6?

Another blue carpet juniper is Blue Pacific, which, as a cultivar of Juniperus conferta is a slightly more tender selection than those noted thus far, performing best in zones 6-9. While drought-tolerant once established, it does better with somewhat regular water for the first few years and also appreciates well-draining soil. This selection has softer needles than those already discussed and has a slightly different sprawling form. It also holds its regular color a soft aqua with hints of silver, all winter long, and cones more prolifically than the other ground cover junipers. So many to choose from!

What is the color of juniper in winter?

Blue Star juniper dazzles with its brilliant color, especially in winter. Photo by Janice LeCocq

What is the best climate for Juniper?

Canary Islands juniper is a big tree. Native to the Canary Islands, and hence a subtropical selection, Juniperus cedrus does best in Mediterranean climates in zones 9 and 10. It is a large, upright tree whose upward facing branches drip with long, graceful branchlets.

What is a gold cone juniper?

Now we're moving away from ground-hugging cultivars to an upright form called Gold Cone. This tidy shrub has a narrow shape, making it perfect for use as a single accent piece (think exclamation point) or in groups. The gold-tipped foliage is attractive both in color and texture. Tipping the terminal bud keeps it slightly shorter and squatter. Like most junipers, it tolerates full sun and tough conditions. One of the cold-hardiest junipers, this one will withstand the wintertime temps of zone 3, yet also performs very well in warmer, dry summer climates.

Where do Junipers grow?

Junipers are members of the Cypress family and are native to Europe, Asia, Africa and North America. Their 'berries', which are actually seed cones with very fleshy, ...

What is a juniper tree?

Junipers are trees belonging to the genus Juniperus. Some of these trees, despite being junipers, are commonly referred to as cedars, such as Juniperus bermudiana, which is commonly known as the Bermuda cedar.

What do juniper leaves look like?

The plants often feature berrylike, bluish, glaucous, bloomy cones on the tips of their shoots. Some junipers also have spiny needle-like leaves. Juniper trees, when they are fully grown, often resemble narrow columns.

What is the common name for a variety of trees?

Cedar is the common name for a variety of trees, including both "true" cedars (those belonging to the genus Cedrus) and "false" or "New World" cedars, which include a number of different trees from separate but similar genera . Junipers are trees belonging to the genus Juniperus.

Why are cedar trees called cedars?

Some believe that these trees came to be called cedars because of their aromatic wood, which resembles that of true cedars.

Where are cedars found?

True cedars are members of the genus Cedrus and include species such as the Lebanon cedar, Atlas cedar, and Cyprus cedar. They are found in the Himalayas and the Mediterranean region and are often grown in parks and gardens.

Where is the most common juniper?

It is the most common juniper in eastern North America. The most common juniper in western North America is the Rocky Mountain juniper. All junipers produce small seed cones that resemble berries. The seed cones of the common juniper are sold as juniper berries.

Where do cedar trees grow?

They grow in the Northeast, Pacific Northwest, and along the Atlantic coast.

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