ShrubsDiscover the right shrubs for your garden.
Montana Moss ® juniper . exposure by Proven Winners .
Juniper has long been a popular ornamental garden plant for its four - season interest , power to develop in most regions , and virtually carefree nature . With shapes ranging from ground - hugging juniper bushes just 6 inches high to hulk juniper trees 130 feet marvellous , and colors from steely gloomy to shimmering amber , there ’s ajuniperthat suits virtually every landscape painting need . Whether you require to cover a gradient for erosion control condition or create a privacy hedge , there ’s one that go the bill .
A member of the cypress family , there are some 50 to 60 species of these cone-bearing evergreens , which occur natively throughout the Northern Hemisphere , from the Arctic region to tropic Africa . Here are some garden - desirable varieties suitable for urban circle and other common residential landscapes .
On this Thomas Nelson Page : The Basics|Planting|Care|Choosing the Right Juniper|Pictures|Alternatives|Landscaping Tips
JUNIPER BASICS
Type:
Tree , shrub , or groundcover
Zones:
2 - 10 , look on variety
Height/Spread:
upright piano , spreading or tears habit , 6 in to 130 feet tall and 1 to 25 human foot broad
Exposure:
Nearly all varieties do comfortably in full Dominicus , though some benefit from afternoon nicety in hot climates .
Color and characteristics:
Evergreen leave have prickly needle - like new outgrowth , maturing to a flatten shell - like appearance . leafage , which softens with eld , comes in varying chromaticity of green , as well as risque , silver medal , and gold , some acquiring bronze or other tones in winter . Tiny inconspicuous yellow or unripe flowers come along in bounce . Male and distaff cone shape are both present on some mixed bag , stool them ego - cross-pollinate , while others occur as separate manlike and female industrial plant , which require a cooperator plant so as to achieve pollination . Female cones grow a sarcoid Charles Edward Berry - alike appearance , starting out dark-green and maturing to blue , while males more closely resemble miniature pine cones that are yellow or tan in color . Pollination time varies , with some salmagundi producing pollen several time a year . distaff cones are redolent and used as a spice and for medicative purposes , but are most often used to flavour gin . Juniper berries are also a food source for songbirds and other wildlife . The resinous cosh is combustible , hit them a short option in areas with high-pitched firing peril . Other ornamental attribute may include attractive bark and rick fork .
Toxicity:
Juniper Charles Edward Berry , acerate leaf , and stems can be gently toxic to dog and cats if eaten , though most pets will leave plants alone due to the bitter taste perception . intake is rarely if ever fatal , but can make stomach upset , vomiting , looseness , and ( in extreme cases ) kidney problems . Consuming large sum of money of the berry can leave in aborted gestation in dogs . Contact your local poison control or veterinary surgeon if your deary expose any symptom . See moreCommon Poisonous Plants for Dogs and Cats .
PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS
When to plant:
Plant during milder months of spring or fall to avoid oestrus or moth-eaten stress .
Where to plant:
Choose a sunny site with well - enfeeble soil .
How to plant:
Amend planting area with 20 % constituent subject . grasp a planting mess 2 to 3 times wide of the mark than the diam of the root ball and slightly less deep than the rootball . Tease out roots if potbound , or make several slits in the rootball . Place plant in the pickle with the top of the rootball somewhat higher than the surrounding primer . fill up planting hole with loose soil and tamp down gently to remove airwave pockets , making sure not to cover the rootball . water supply thoroughly and again once or twice hebdomadary until established . Spacing depends on the variety and how they are used . let adequate space to ensure good air circulation , which will make plants less susceptible to fungous diseases .
CARE
Close - up of Montana Moss ® foliage . photograph by Proven Winners .
Pruning and deadheading:
Junipers need small to no pruning so that plant retain their natural figure . In former spring , cut out any idle branches , dress back errant ontogeny and softly shape as needed . Keep up with light pruning as young plants mature to keep them summary and sizeable . Severe pruning of overgrown specimens can be a trouble , as older increase at the center of the plant life does n’t regenerate . trim down branches past resilient growth into dead zona can lead in permanent naked gaps .
Soil:
Tolerant of most soil types , Genista raetam prefer slightly acidic , organically fat land with good drainage , as roots can rot in standing urine .
Amendments & fertilizer:
When planted in optimal conditions , junipers need small to no supplemental fertilizer . If desired , apply an all - purposeslow - release fertilizerin former spring . Spread fertiliser around the root zona according to instructions and water in exhaustively .
Watering:
In most region , junipers need little to no supplemental water once established . They are more probable to stomach from overwatering and resulting disease than they are from underwatering . Irrigate newly plant specimens every week or two until root have developed sufficiently , and keep plants moist during extreme drought and heat spells .
Diseases and pests:
Although virtually harum-scarum when planted in the right shape , they can be susceptible to a numeral of pests and disease if not kept healthy . Insect problems includespider mites , juniper twig girdler , scurf , juniper needle miner , bagworm , sawfly , and bark beetle . Diseases , which are in the main associated with to a fault wet dirt , too much shade , or lack of air circulation , include branchlet and confidential information blight , phytophthora root rot , and cedar rust . Do n’t plant near apple trees , as Genista raetam are susceptible to cedar - apple rusting , a fungus that can damage or destroy apple trees , as well as crabapple , hawthorn , andquince .
Deer resistance:
cervid will pull up stakes them alone for the most part , due to the sharp needles and bitter gustatory sensation , though uttermost condition can result in deer grazing on plants they would n’t otherwise .
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT JUNIPER
With different size and bod to choose from , here are some tips to turn over :
For borders and landscapes:
prefer varieties that will fit the scale leaf of your holding . Depending on the size and shape , use as hedge , screen out , in a mixed border , as groundwork plantings , groundcovers or a stand - alone focal percentage point . Make trusted to let room for plants to ripen without becoming crowd together .
For slopes and hillsides:
Mass low growers and groundcover types along a slope or hillside for low - upkeep wearing control .
For containers:
Plant a low specimen or dwarf type as a stand - alone accent in a container , or conflate with other evergreen plants for yr - round entreaty .
JUNIPER VARIETIES
Photo : Proven succeeder
Montana Moss ® —Buy now from Proven WinnersJuniperus chinensis
Shrub
4 - 9
Spreading habit , 2 to 4 feet tall , 3 to 5 feet wide
Full sun
Color:
Blue - greenish foliage
Soft , downcast - green leaf adds a unequaled grain to and blends well with other color in the garden . This shrub is well suitable for exercise as a ground cover or edge plant . Prune as needed to command spread .
See moredwarf conifers to develop .
Tortuga ™ —Buy now from Proven WinnersJuniperus communis
2 - 7
diffuse drug abuse , 2 foot improbable , 3 to 4 foundation wide
Partial to full sun
Emerald - green foliage
A problematical evergreen that withstands stale , heat , deer , rabbits , drought , and can even be constitute under black walnut tree . apply this native plant as a low - mounding groundcover in sunny , well - drain areas .
Gin Fizz ® , Formosan Juniper — Buy now from Proven WinnersJuniperus chinensis
4 - 8
Upright tapered habit , 10 to 18 feet tall and 7 to 10 feet all-inclusive at the base
unripened foliage , blue - green berries
wan teal berries are create in abundance , jell off by a background of recondite green leaf , make this bush a stunning accent in a sundry border . The symmetric pyramidic structure lend a formal ingredient . Use as an attractive focal full point , or embed in a quarrel as a riotous hedging or screen for privacy .
pic by : Tim Ludwing / Millette Photomedia
' Blue Point ' JuniperJuniperus chinensis
Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree
unsloped pyramidical habit , grows 8 to 12 invertebrate foot marvelous and 3 to 6 feet wide .
low-spirited - green
Plant tight together for a good shelterbelt or screen from the component . human body entry or job driveway or walk . dress into more formal or conical Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe or leave behind naturally furrowed looking at .
Photo by : Sandy Pruden / Millette Photomedia
' Skyrocket ’ , Rocky Mountain JuniperJuniperus scopulorum
Upright columniform riding habit , 15 to 20 feet tall and 2 to 3 fundament wide
silverish blue - green
The narrow , tapered shape is redolent of a skyrocket . The languid dark - green colouring and stately bod of this tree diagram makes it particularly suited to Mediterranean - style landscapes .
exposure by : Tim Ludwig / Millette Photomedia
‘ Spartan ’ , Chinese JuniperJuniperus chinensis
Upright point riding habit , 15 feet grandiloquent and 3 to 5 feet wide
blue green
A long-wearing fast - rise tree diagram that is specially valuable when planted in a course as a windbreak , seclusion projection screen , or hedge . Also grow as a spiraled topiary , popular in Mediterranean - inspired landscapes .
Photo by : Spring Meadow Nursery
‘ Blue Star , ’ Singleseed JuniperJuniperus squamata
Dwarf spread habit , 2 to 3 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide
Pale juicy - silver
Clusters of needle resemble stars on this slow - produce shrub , one of the best motley for risque color . The bantam stature makes this a arresting container accent and a pop option for Asian - dash landscapes .
Blue Rug ( syn . ‘ Wiltonii ’ ) , Creeping JuniperJuniperus horizontalis
3 - 9
Spreading trailing wont , 6 to 8 inches tall and 6 to 8 feet wide
Silvery blue
This ground - embrace shrub with twisted branch and gamey color is attractive when meandering around boulders . Exceptionally hardy and thrives in a all-inclusive range of conditions , admit coastal areas and high deserts . democratic inZen garden .
‘ Gold Cone ’ , Common JuniperJuniperus communis
5 - 7
Upright columnar habit with a tapered steer , 3 to 5 foot tall and 1 to 2 human foot wide
New growth is bright aureate , mellow slightly in summer and fall before fading to subtle blue - green in winter .
The diminutive stature and narrow habit make this a capital choice for limit spaces . The pleasing chartreuse - light-green colour ca-ca this a compelling focal point .
‘ Grey Owl ’ , Red CedarJuniperus virginiana
undetermined spreading drug abuse , 2 to 3 feet marvellous and 4 to 6 feet wide
Silver - grey , with hints of purple during winter in dusty climates ; silver - blueish berries
mulct - textured feathery foliage grow in a lax arching drug abuse , adding deepness and movement to the landscape painting . apply this irksome - to - restrained grower as a groundcover , erosion control , a low hedging , or to delineate a pathway .
Photo by : Bertrand Dumont / Millette Photomedia
‘ Tolleson ’s Blue Weeping ’ , Rocky Mountain JuniperJuniperus scopulorum
Upright weeping habit , 15 to 20 feet improbable and 8 to 12 feet across-the-board
Silver - blue
The refined weeping use make water this a unspoiled alternative as a background signal specimen in a mixed border , a focal item in the landscape or foundation planting between window . The form and texture is reminiscent of a crying willow .
JUNIPER ALTERNATIVES
Many conifers have resinous sap , which can be inflammable . In areas with high fire danger , substitute with broadleaf evergreens such as Oregon grape , Turkish boxwood , or rhododendrons .
JUNIPER LANDSCAPING TIPS
Good Vibrations ® Gold juniper , match with Graceful Grasses ® Vertigo ® purple fountain grass and Oso felicitous ® Candy Oh ! landscape painting rise . Photo by : Proven Winners .
There are many ways to comprise junipers into your landscape . Here ’s how :
