Single Seed Juniper (Juniperus squamata)

[milehigh_7]

More bargain hunting at the local nursery this poodle like thing was labeled both Single Seed Juniper (Juniperus squamata) and Juniperus chinensis prostrata. It was about $20 so I thought I would give it a go. I do not know how to key it properly, maybe one of you could help with that.

Anyway it has a 2.5" caliper at the base and is currently about 4' high it is in the upright poodle style currently. however it does have some nice curves and has foliage on the trunk right at the first curve (about 6")

I need a plan to proceed. I have considered air layering to shorten it up. If anyone has any bright ideas for a several year project I would be much obliged.

Each pom-pom is about 9"-12" apart... *groan*

 

[Dav4]

The foliage on 'squamata', in my experience tend to be short and needled, and your tree doesn't appear to have that type of foliage, so I vote some 'chinensis' variety. The trunk screams literati to me, at least with the one pic provided. With that in mind, pics from more angles would help. It would be nice to see the tree out of the can with the upper roots exposed, if possible.

Dave

 

[milehigh_7]

After looking at some id keys I agree about not looking like squamata... I will take some better pictures of the foliage and hopefully get this thing keyed accurately.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

How about grafting it with shimp and later removing the poms?

 

[milehigh_7]

Ok all in its pond basket and pushing new growth. I got some closer shots of the foliage and it looks nothing like squamata that I can find on line. Do these shots give anyone a better idea what it is for sure? It does have a little bit of juvenile foliage but not much.

Once I get it keyed I will start a thread about it with the right name.

 

[Dav4]

Still not sure. One of your pics had both needled and scale foliage, so I was thinking maybe J. c. 'San Jose', but that's just a guess.

 

[jk_lewis]

I truly doubt it's possible to ID a juniper on line.

 

[Smoke]

It's prostrata. Parsons juniper

Juniperus Chinensus "Parsonii"

They will contain both juvinile and adult foliage on the bush at the same time. The parsons will revert to adult foliage faster than most junipers. It likes adult.

The tree sometimes looks better with juvinile foliage though as the adult foliage can get very coarse and stringy. It does pinch back but it is best to do it in the spring when it starts to move. Keep the tips pinched and it does OK, go too deep and the foliage will stall and turn brown and then white at the tips.

These trees do best when grafted with a better, tighter foliage as the trunks do grow fast.

 

[milehigh_7]

It's prostrata. Parsons juniper

Juniperus Chinensus "Parsonii"

They will contain both juvinile and adult foliage on the bush at the same time. The parsons will revert to adult foliage faster than most junipers. It likes adult.

The tree sometimes looks better with juvinile foliage though as the adult foliage can get very coarse and stringy. It does pinch back but it is best to do it in the spring when it starts to move. Keep the tips pinched and it does OK, go too deep and the foliage will stall and turn brown and then white at the tips.

These trees do best when grafted with a better, tighter foliage as the trunks do grow fast.

Excellent! Thanks Al.

 

[milehigh_7]

LOL! Check out this post, click the event link and see what Ryan's second demo tree will be:

http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4823

*slaps forehead* guess this is a confusing one...