The Best Time of the Year to Collect California Junipers

Transplanting Junipers

• If wild collection is necessary and permission for collection has been obtained from appropriate authorities, the same rules of thumb apply to transplanting California juniper as other plants. Transplanting should take place at times and in ways that cause the least stress to the plants. Young plants are easier to transplant than older ones. Planting in spring or fall weather, when the air and soil temperatures are between 40 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, causes less plant stress than the heat of summer. Early morning or late afternoon digging works best.

California Juniper Characteristics

• California juniper is a multistemmed evergreen with characteristics typical of the cypress (Cupressaceae) family. Sometimes known as desert white ceder, it grows between 10 and 40 feet tall with an equal spread. Its growth habit is erect and open, and the branches are sturdy. The foliage is blue-green and the edible, berrylike cones are gray-green, maturing to reddish brown. California juniper is native to hilly desert regions of California and is important there for erosion control.

Bonsai Subjects

• California juniper makes an excellent bonsai subject -- the shrubs are long-lived and the branches and roots are amenable to pruning and training. The shrubs have been used and collected from the wild by bonsai practitioners for many years. Those interested in bonsai generally collect younger specimens and take care in their removal and transport. However, whether collecting for bonsai or backyard landscaping, it is still important to secure permission before digging the plants and to collect responsibly. Some bonsai practitioners collect seed from desert plants instead of removing the plants themselves.

Other Uses

• Whether raised from collected seed, collected or nursery grown specimen, California juniper makes excellent components for xeriscape or dry gardens, grouped with other plants that share its low water needs. It also makes a good addition to California native plant gardens. With edible berrylike cones that are eaten by birds, California juniper makes a good addition to a wildlife habitat garden. The shrubs are also helpful on hillsides where they prevent erosion and add beauty.