The common juniper, Juniperus communis , forms dominant scrub in limestone and shale areas of Britain. Junipers have the widest distribution of any conifer, occurring throughout the Northern Hemisphere from the mountains of the African tropics to the Arctic Circle. Although some species are poisonous, juniper plants have many traditional uses. The berries are used to flavour gin and are valued for their use in aromatic oils and cosmetics. The foliage may also be dried and burned in order to cure meats.
Junipers require low pollution levels and fertile, free-draining soil for best growth.
They also prefer a sheltered area away from wind, which can damage the shape of the plants. The bulk of our collection is at Wakehurst Place, where the growing conditions are more favourable for the majority of junipers, but although the juniper collection at Kew is smaller than that at Wakehurst Place, it still provides a representative collection of species for public display. The Juniper Collection is number 18 on the Visitor Map .