Iris Cohen wrote:

Landscape junipers are not so difficult to collect. However, the wild one you
dscribe is Juniperus communis. European bonsai artists have successfully
collected the European form. You can see wild juniper bonsai in the European
books. However, the American form, although very interesting in appearance,
does not take well to bonsai culture. Those who have tried it had it die on
them. I can report that young specimens make very good foundation shrubs, if
you don't mind the prickles. There are other American junipers from out West
which make excellent bonsai, but you have to either go there & collect them, or
pay a pretty penny.
Iris,
Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40

I have a Juniperus communis that seems to be the exception. I collected it in
Maine last spring. I did it gradually, first root pruning it in the ground in the
fall, letting it sit there for the winter, and collecting it in the spring. It is
now in it's second year in a wooden box. The trunk is a little over an inch at the
base. There was some dieback, but instead of cutting the plant back I let it
decide what needed to go. Last year it held it's own, but this year it is
absolutely lush.

I don't think I would attempt to collect a juniper of this species much larger than
this one, though, because they spread in a hurry and will not have foliage for
several feet.

Craig Cowing
NY
Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37

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