Juniperus sabina 'Tamariscifolia'
Common name: 
Tam Juniper
Tamarix Juniper
Pronunciation: 
ju-NIP-er-us sa-BEE-na
Family: 
Cupressaceae
Genus: 
Juniperus
Synonyms: 
J. sabina var. tamariscifolia
Type: 
Conifer
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Conifer, evergreen, shrub, low spreading, mounded form, 18 inches (45 cm) high (to 3 ft when old) by 10 ft (3 m) across, branches horizontal and layered on each other, branchlets crowded, tend to arise from upper 30° of a branch.   Leaves scale-like (4 ranked), sharp tipped, out spreading, dorsal gland, and on older branchlets, awl-shaped needles, 2-3 mm long, blue-green.  Like other J. sabina, leaves emit an unpleasant odor when crushed; difficult to detect in cold weather.
  • Sun.  Adaptable.  Does well on limestone soil and well-drained and dry soils.  Tolerates city conditions.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 3      Found in the wild on the mountains in Southern Europe, and may deserve the botanical categorization of variety (i.e., Juniperus sabin var. tamariscifolia).   Probably more than one clone in the nursery trade.
  • There is a similar form with bluish-green foliage known as ‘New Blue’  (syn. J. sabina var. tamariscifolia ‘New Blue’)
  • Oregon State Univ. campus: west side of Gilbert Hall
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit

    plant habit

  • older plant habit

    older plant habit

  • branches

    branches

  • branch

    branch

  • branch

    branch

  • branch, end on view

    branch, end on view

  • branchlets, leaves

    branchlets, leaves

  • branch, comparison

    branch, comparison