Please Help.

[species69]

I have a lovely little tree but I am not sure what it is. I am attaching some photos to help identify it. Thanks in advance.

[Orion]

Looks like a young Juniper...

[species69]

Thanks for the reply. I agree it looks like Juniper but it is probably 10 to fifteen years old and show no sign of more mature foliage. I suspect it is Juniper Communis myself but would like to know what others think.

P.S. Love this site. It's like coming home...

[Orion]

Maybe some sort of cryptomeria...

[rowan]

Most junipers have one type of foliage or the other, many have only prickly 'juvinile' foliage all their lives. At this age you are stuck with the foliage that it has.

Cheers,
Rowan

[species69]

"Stuck with the foliage" is not an issue for me. It is cute as it is and I like it like that. Thanks for the alternative option Orion. I did have some cryptomeria japonica's before but they died when I had to change to town water not tank water. They were not happy with the extra alcalinity in the water at all. I remember the foliage being similar but not so prickly.

[Mitchell]

Needle Juniper.

viewtopic.php?f=131&t=1258

viewtopic.php?f=131&t=5751

or mine here

viewtopic.php?f=131&t=5612

[species69]

Nailed it. Perfect identification. Looks eggzachery like mine in the foliage and similar trunk. So, Needle Juniper it is! Thanks All. Stay tuned for the pine tree to follow soon.

[Mitchell]

Nailed it. Perfect identification. Looks eggzachery like mine in the foliage and similar trunk. So, Needle Juniper it is! Thanks All. Stay tuned for the pine tree to follow soon.

From what I have been told, there may be a couple of varieties of needle juniper, but those silver strips are spot on mine. Mine was sold as a "Needle Juniper", not sure of the difference betweens types.

[Jamie]

nope, sorry dont think its needle juniper, if it was you would have had some form of the mature foliage after fifteen years. how long has it been in your possesion?

it actually looks like one of the blue juniper squamata, a young specimen at that, if it was fifteen and a squamata i would expect some form of mature foliage on it too.

jamie

[species69]

Hi Jamie, I've had it before we moved to Adelaide in 1999 so at least 11 years old, probably more. There is no sign of mature foliage on the tree. I will try to get some better photos.

[Jamie]

righto mate, 11 years is a fair bit of time for the tree to show some form of mature foliage, in saying that I would of expected squamata to show some, so that probably takes that out, there are as others have said junipers that stay with juvenielle foliage, i would be looking into procumbens, communis like you said, and possibly another few options.

needle juniper display a longer sort of "needle" than the one you have. thats why I dont think it is a juniperus ridgida.

Jamie

[Mitchell]

righto mate, 11 years is a fair bit of time for the tree to show some form of mature foliage, in saying that I would of expected squamata to show some, so that probably takes that out, there are as others have said junipers that stay with juvenielle foliage, i would be looking into procumbens, communis like you said, and possibly another few options.

needle juniper display a longer sort of "needle" than the one you have. thats why I dont think it is a juniperus ridgida.

Jamie

Interesting.... My Needle Juniper only has foliage like this one... Short and compact

[Dumper]

communis. pretty sure.

[species69]

Here is a closer photo of the foliage. It shows definate verigated colours on the top of the leaves but still looks like a needle juniper to me.