Juniper ground cover is a great way to fill in garden gaps around borders, patios, pathways and rockeries. Different juniper varieties offer a wide range of dense, mat-forming foliage in heights to suit any need. These plants come in steely blues, minty greens, cheerful golds and variegated options. In winter, juniper foliage takes on purple, burgundy and copper tones to add interest to quiet corners.

Highly regarded as a garden stalwart, juniper is drought tolerant and weather-resilient. Of the many ground cover plants you can grow, these coniferous plants are among the most dependable and adaptable, often working equally well on flat surfaces and on slopes. Here, we round up some of the varieties that will flourish as attractive ground cover and effective erosion controls.

Best Juniper Ground Cover For Every Garden Size

Juniper ground covers range from only a few inches to three feet tall (1m) with a variable spread. This means that however big or small your garden, there is a juniper variety here to suit you. Give some thought to ground cover spacing based on the needs of your particular juniper selection. When first planted, space them out to allow ample space for growth.

Surround with mulch to conserve moisture and reduce weeds until the juniper plants establish. If pruning becomes necessary, limit to tip-pruning to encourage fullness – don't cut back severely. Choose disease-resistant cultivars to avoid problems such as cedar apple rust and foliage or tip blight. 

Creeping Juniper Ground Cover

Common creeping cedar or creeping juniper ground cover (Juniperus horizontalis) grows 1-2ft tall and 4-8ft wide (0.3-0.6m by 1.2-2.4m) with green or bluish-green foliage and blue cones. It forms a dense carpet of growth (pictured above, 'Glacier') and works well on slopes. This juniper ground cover is also very drought tolerant.

Andorra Juniper 'Plumosa'

Andorra (J. horizontalis 'Plumosa') grows 2ft tall by 10ft wide (0.6m by 3m) with gray-green foliage in summer. This juniper's coloring shifts to golds and plum tones in winter, adding vibrant seasonal interest during the colder months. It works well in coastal plantings and drought-tolerant gardens.

Juniper 'Bar Harbor'

'Bar Harbor' (J. horizontalis 'Bar Harbor') is an excellent juniper as ground cover for garden rockeries and rocky borders. This vigorous variety grows around 8in tall and 6ft wide (20cm by 1.8m), and its feathery, green-gray summer foliage takes on charming purple hues in winter. 

Juniper 'Blue Chip'

'Blue Chip' (J. horizontalis 'Blue Chip') grows to around 1ft tall (0.3m), and has distinctive silvery blue foliage with a feathery shape. Its almost ethereal coloring (pictured above) makes it ideal for edging pathways and framing patio spaces with warm, terracotta tones or, conversely, white planting themes.

Blue Rug Juniper

Blue Rug (J. horizontalis 'Wiltonii') is a very low-growing juniper plant, reaching just 4in high (10cm) by 8-10ft wide (2.4-3m) with a trailing habit. It silver blue foliage takes on bronze tinges during the winter months. Since it is highly salt and wind tolerant, it works well exposed areas and grows best in full sun. 

Juniper 'Blue Prince'

Another creeping evergreen, 'Blue Prince' (J. horizontalis 'Blue Prince') works well on slopes. Its ground-draping foliage is capable of growing 6in tall by 5ft wide (15cm by 1.5m), and is noted for its fine blue needle color. These tones become even more intensely blue during the winter months.

Shore Juniper

Distinctively feathery, shore juniper (J. conferta) plants grow 12-18in high (30-46cm) with a 6-8ft spread (1.8-2.4m), making them perfect for seaside growing. Variety 'Blue Pacific' has blue foliage and is heat tolerant, while 'Emerald Sea' and 'Schlager' (pictured above) have green foliage.

Juniper 'Hughes'

Wide-spreading 'Hughes' (J. horizontalis 'Hughes') grows 1ft tall by 9ft wide (0.3m by 3m), with silver-blue foliage that takes on tinges of purple in winter. Its feathery habit makes this drought-tolerant juniper plant an excellent choice for rockery and gravel gardens.

Juniper 'Mother Lode'

'Mother Lode' ('Wiltonii' sport) is capable of growing 3in tall and 3ft wide (8cm by 0.9m). Its gold variegated foliage (pictured below) takes on orangish tones during winter. This bright juniper ground cover works well in contrast with earthy tones and accompanying flowering ground cover plants.

Juniper 'Prince of Wales'

'Prince of Wales' (J. horizontalis 'Prince of Wales') grows 6in tall (15cm), with bright green foliage which takes on purple tones through fall and winter. Excellent as an edging for pathways and patio gardens, and also in areas with chunkier rocks, this sun-loving juniper ground cover also works well in sandy soils.

Juniper 'Gold Strike'

For anyone looking to add a natural splash of gold to borders and pathways, this juniper variety is ideal. 'Gold Strike' (J. horizontalis 'Gold Strike') has light green foliage which gleams with cheerful yellow notes through summer and orange tones in the fall. It makes a lovely, low growing but mounding ground cover.

Juniper 'Youngstown'

Both cold and heat tolerant, 'Youngstown' (J. horizontalis 'Youngstown') has soft gray-green foliage which acquires purple tones in winter. Growing around 1ft tall and as much as 6ft wide (0.3m by 1.8m), it creates an impressively thick structure which adapts well to slopes as well as flat patios and pathways. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Does It Take for Juniper Ground Cover to Establish?

Exactly how long it takes for juniper ground cover to thicken up will depend on several factors. These include planting conditions, how level the ground is, any neighbouring plants, and plant spacing. On the whole, junipers develop relatively slowly, so are only likely to grow 6-8in each year. Most of the time, they grow outwards rather than vertically. Your juniper should establish within a couple of years of planting.

Which Plants Are Best to Grow Near My Juniper Ground Cover?

Depending on whether you are growing juniper as ground cover around a pathway, border, patio, rock garden or slope, your choice of planting companions will vary. Excellent drought-tolerant ground cover companions include creeping thyme, agapanthus, creeping sedum and euphorbia. For a structural contrast, a hosta works well, while nepeta adds natural complementary tones to blue junipers.

Junipers are attractive, tough, and useful trees in a landscape. They serve well as screens, hedges, windbreaks, foundation plants and specimens, with juniper species ranging from low-growing groundcover shrubs to large conical trees. Small juniper trees also grow well in containers. A potted presentation works particularly well for juniper topiary. Read on for information on how to care for potted junipers.

Juniper Trees

Few trees are more versatile in the backyard than the juniper (Juniperus spp.). There are some 70 species in the genus Juniperus, all aromatic conifers. Junipers have juvenile leaves in the shape of needles and scale-like mature leaves; they also bear small seed cones called berries. 

Here are where the similarities end though. There are tall and short junipers, thin and spreading junipers, and even juniper groundcover. Their foliage is far from uniform, with specimens displaying needles in varying shades of green, blue, and yellow. Small junipers are sometimes pruned artistically into juniper topiary.

Potted Juniper

Some short juniper trees are sized well for container planting. These include torulosa juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘Torulosa’), topping out at 15 feet (5 m.) and gold coin juniper (Juniperus communis 'Gold Cone'), a small tree that doesn’t grow above 5 feet (1.5 m.). 

Deciding to grow junipers in containers can have some real advantages. First, potted juniper can provide greenery for homes with limited backyard space. Also, small junipers in containers are easy to move if you place them on rolling container platforms. They can be moved into the sun as the exposure changes and from the patio to the garage when cold weather strikes. 

Another advantage of planting short junipers in containers is the ability to select appropriate soil for the tree. All junipers prefer a potting mix that is light and airy and drains well. Acidic soil is preferred.

Potted Juniper Tree Care

If you are considering planting a short juniper tree in a container, you’ll want to learn more about how to accomplish this. The first step is selecting a container. Pick one with drainage holes and make sure it is large enough to allow the juniper to develop its roots. The rule of thumb is to pick a container at least twice the size of the root ball.

Once the juniper is planted, potted juniper tree care is minimal. Water the small juniper every week or so, or whenever the top inch (2.5 cm.) of soil is dry, adding a slow-release fertilizer in spring. Keep the juniper in a sunny area.

A wonderful, low maintenance sprawling plant comes in the form of Japanese juniper shrubs. Scientifically known as Juniperus procumbens, the second part of the name refers to the plant's low height. If you want a "set and forget" type of plant, Japanese juniper care is minimal and easy once established.

Learn how to care for Japanese juniper and enjoy this low maintenance plant in your garden.

About Japanese Juniper Shrubs

Blue green foliage and elegant prostrate stems characterize this juniper plant. The dwarf, evergreen shrub makes a perfect addition to most sites with an adaptable nature and its only main requirement is full sun. As an added bonus, deer seldom bother this needled plant and it remains green throughout the winter.

Unmotivated gardeners might want to try growing Japanese junipers. Not only are they easy and uncomplaining but they fill in hillsides, create a carpet under trees, set off pathways, or just make a statement as a solo specimen.

The Japanese juniper plant is hardy to USDA zone 4. It can withstand very cold temperatures or periods of drought. The plant gets no taller than 2 feet (61 cm.) but can spread twice that dimension. The bark is an attractive reddish brown and scaly. Occasionally, tiny round cones can be seen in the pointed leaves. 

Growing Japanese Junipers

Select a well-draining site in full sun. The shrub is adaptable to most soil pH ranges and soil types but avoid planting in heavy clay.

Dig a hole twice as wide and deep as the root ball and mix in some compost. Spread out the roots of the plant in the hole and back fill, filling around roots to remove air pockets.

Water young plants well until established and spread a mulch of pine needles, straw, or bark around the root zone to hold in moisture and prevent weed competitors.

How to Care for Japanese Juniper

This is one of the easiest plants for which to care. They don't need fertilizer if planted in rich loam but feed once in spring if the plant is in low nutrient soil.

Water during extreme drought and keep evenly moist the rest of the year.

Junipers respond well to pruning. Wear gloves and a long-sleeved shirt, as the scaly foliage can cause contact dermatitis. Prune to remove broken or dead stems and to keep the sprawl in check if necessary. Japanese juniper care couldn't be more easy!

Mountain cedar is a tree with a common name full of contradictions. The tree is not a cedar at all, and its native range is central Texas, not known for its mountains. What is mountain cedar? In fact, trees called mountain cedar are actually ashe juniper trees. For more mountain cedar information, including facts about mountain cedar pollen and allergies, read on.

What is Mountain Cedar?

Juniperus ashei has many common names. It is called ashe juniper and mountain cedar, but also rock cedar, Mexican juniper, and Texas cedar.

This native juniper tree is an evergreen and is not very tall. It can present as a large shrub or a small tree, rarely exceeding 25 feet (7.5 m.) tall. Its primary habitat is central Texas but it also grows in the wild in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, and northern Mexico.

Mountain Cedar Information

The ashe juniper trees have rounded crowns as they mature. The trunks of these trees often branch from the base, and the dark bark exfoliates in strips. The leaves on these trees look like scales. However, they are green during the growing season and hold onto the color through winter.

Some ashe juniper trees are male and others are female plants. The male trees bear mountain cedar pollen cones at the tips of the branches. Fruiting cones that look like berries appear on female trees. They provide food for wildlife.

Mountain Cedar Allergies

The male pollen appears in tiny amber cones, about the size of rice grains. There are many of them, covering the tops of the trees. In a rainy year, the trees produce tons of pollen. The cones begin to appear in December. In a short time, any breath of wind causes clouds of pollen near the trees.

Mountain cedar pollen causes an unpleasant allergic reaction in some people. Some call it “cedar fever.” It can be an annoyance and even dreadful, causing red eyes, a runny nose, itchy ears, incessant sneezing, and a sort of fatigue that prevents the sufferer from having any energy.

Those who suffer from mountain cedar allergies often end up visiting a doctor specializing in allergies. Shots are available that help about three-quarters of sufferers. Whether or not they are cured though, these people are not likely to start growing mountain cedar trees of their own.

In the mid 17th century, a Dutch physician named Francis Sylvius created and marketed a diuretic tonic made from juniper berries. This tonic, now known as gin, instantly became a huge hit throughout Europe as an inexpensive, domestic, buzz-producing alcohol beverage, rather than the medicinal tonic Sylvius had intended it to be. 

However, for centuries before Sylvius developed his juniper berry tonic, juniper berries had already been used as a strong flavoring for wine, mead, and other alcoholic beverages, as well as a spice for meats, stews, sauerkraut, and other dishes. Upon reading this you may be wondering, are all juniper berries edible? Read on for that answer.

Are Juniper Berries Poisonous?

First, it is important to take a closer look at what we consider a juniper berry. Juniper is a conifer that occurs naturally in many parts of the world. They can be found in the forms of small sprawling shrubs, medium-sized shrubs, right up to medium-sized trees. 

Juniper varieties are native to North America, Europe, and Asia. Throughout history, different parts of juniper have been used in different culinary and medicinal recipes, though it is the juniper berries that are used in juniper’s most noteworthy recipes. However, these “berries” are not really berries at all; they’re actually the fleshy cones of female junipers, which have such small, compacted scales that they have an appearance similar to berries. 

During the Middle Ages, juniper berries were used to ward off disease and infection. Though part of this may have been plague-paranoia, juniper berries do have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-viral properties. Native Americans used juniper berries as a medicine to treat sore throats, colds, pain, fever, headaches, joint inflammation, dizziness, kidney stones, as well as to flavor wild game, cakes, and breads.

The flavor of juniper berries is said to tone down the gaminess of venison, wild boar, waterfowl, and other game meats. The dusty coating on juniper berries is actually a wild yeast, so juniper berries have also been used for centuries in beer-crafting and breads; many sourdough starter recipes call for juniper berries.

In Germany, authentic sauerbraten and sauerkraut are made with juniper berries. Juniper berries are not eaten in handfuls, straight off the bush like the sweet, juicy blueberries they resemble. Juniper berries have a strong, bitter, slightly peppery flavor and gritty texture.

Instead, just a small quantity of mature juniper berries is added to recipes as a flavoring or spice. They can be added whole and fresh off the shrub to marinades, meat rubs, wood chips when smoking meats, or added to pickling meats. Juniper berries can even be added to hair rinses, vinegars, or oils to promote shiny hair.

Whole berries are also added to teas and tinctures for their medicinal qualities and ground into salves for wound care. Juniper berries can take about two years to mature for use. When mature, they turn a dusty blue to black color. Mature, but still green juniper berries, are used to make gin.

Can You Eat Juniper Berries You Pick?

Now before you start foraging for juniper berries in your backyard, it is important to consider some things. First off, is it safe to eat juniper berries? There are over 45 different types of junipers. All juniper berries contain the powerful oil Thujone. This oil can cause stomach upset, diarrhea, and kidney problems when ingested in large quantities. 

Certain varieties of juniper berry contain safe, low amounts of Thujone, while other varieties contain high levels and can make you very sick. The common juniper, Juniperus communis, is the variety most often used to make gin, medicines, and food dishes, as it is considered safe for human consumption. Other edible juniper berries include:

• Juniperus drupacea
• Juniperus phoenicea
• Juniperus californica
• Juniperus deppeana

NOTE: The berries of Juniperus sabina and Juniperus oxycedrus are not safe for human consumption and should be avoided. Be certain you only consume berries from a variety you know is safe.

You must also consider location when foraging for juniper berries. As with any edible plant, you don’t want to eat anything that may have been exposed to harmful chemicals. Avoid harvesting from junipers that grow alongside roads, parking lots, driveways, or landscapes which are treated with pesticides or where they may receive chemical drift or runoff. Additionally, juniper berries are generally not considered safe for pregnant or nursing women. Handling juniper plants can cause skin irritations, so gloves can help.

The Pacific Northwest is rife with junipers, small green evergreen shrubs that are often covered in berries that look akin to blueberries. Given that they are prolific and the fruit looks so much like a berry, the natural question is "can you eat juniper berries?” If so, what do you do with juniper berries? Read on to find out how to use juniper berries along with some useful juniper berry recipes.

Can You Eat Juniper Berries?

Yes, juniper berries are edible. In fact, you may have tasted them before without even knowing it if you drink alcoholic beverages. Juniper berries are what gives a gin martini its unique flavoring. While gin has been a popular intoxicant for over 300 years in western culture, juniper berries have actually been used medicinally since the 16th century.

How to Use Juniper Berries

Common juniper, Juniperus comunis, belongs to the family Cupressaceae that encompasses around 60 to 70 species of aromatic evergreens throughout the Northern Hemisphere. It is the most widely distributed conifer in the world and the most common in the northern temperate region. Male and female reproductive organs are found on separate plants, thus, only females have fruit. These berries mature in one to three seasons and contain one to twelve seeds, although the norm is around just three. In the past, juniper berry uses were primarily medicinal. They were used to treat numerous diseases by the ancient Greeks as well as the Arabs and Native American Indians. The berries were used either chewed raw or steeped into a tea to treat gastrointestinal complaints, rheumatic pain, and for back and chest ailments. Rich in volatile oils, junipers have been used as herbs in aromatherapy, a science that can be traced back over 5,000 years. This science uses essential oils in massage, bathing, or in teas to promote not only good health but therapeutic beauty.

What to Do with Juniper Berries

Dr. Sylvuis invented gin in the Netherlands in 1650, although it wasn’t originally created as a spirit but rather as a remedy for kidney ailments. The concoction was a success, although less for its renal remedies and more for its alcoholic content. If you are looking for something to do with juniper berries, I suppose you could always follow in Dr. Sylvuis’s footsteps and make your own gin, or bathtub gin, but there are plenty of other ways to impart that unique juniper flavor into foods. Juniper berry recipes abound and can add an interesting flavor profile to homemade sauerkraut or made into a tincture to add a floral, pine-like essence to alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks. It has primarily been used to season heavily flavored game, like pheasant or venison. It works beautifully in mulled wines and enhances jams, such as rhubarb and juniper berry jam. Try adding juniper berries to your next batch of roasted potatoes. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. (177 C.). Place olive oil and juniper berries into a baking pan and put in the preheated oven for a few minutes to warm the berries and get them to release their essential oils. Remove the baking pan from the oven and toss baby potatoes (use red, yellow, purple, or all three) into the infused olive oil along with some fresh smashed garlic cloves. Roast the potatoes for 45 to 50 minutes or so until they are tender. Remove them from the oven and toss them with sea salt, freshly ground pepper, and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.

Is It Safe To Pick Juniper Berries – Learn About Harvesting Juniper Berries

Junipers are common in many parts of the world. There are about 40 species of juniper, most of which produce toxic berries. But for the educated eye, Juniperus communis, or Common Juniper, has edible, pleasantly pungent berries that can be used as a flavoring, incense, medicinal, or part of a cosmetic preparation.

Continue reading for tips on how to pick juniper berries and how to recognize safe juniper plants.

Is it Safe to Pick Juniper Berries?

Those blue berries coated with a white powder are the source of the flavoring in gin. You don't have to be a gin lover to want to learn when to harvest juniper berries.

Is it safe to pick juniper berries? Make sure you can recognize the bush that is the source of this safe seasoning, or some very unpleasant experiences may await from harvesting juniper berries off the wrong plant.

The common juniper is hardy in USDA zones 2 to 6 and is found in a wide variety of soils. The plants grow in Asia, Europe, and North America.

Recognizing this species can be difficult because it grows in a wide variety of forms. It may be a low, spreading shrub or a tall tree up to 25 feet (7.5 m) in height.

Common juniper is an evergreen conifer with blue-green awl-shaped needles. The berries are actually cones and are bitter when unripe but have a pleasant taste when fully mature.

When to Harvest Juniper Berries

Juniper berries ripen for 2 to 3 years. The first year produces flowers, the second a hard green berry, and by the third, they are ripening to a deep blue.

Pick berries in the fall once the plant has lots of blue berries. There will be berries in all stages of ripening, but the green ones are not very aromatic and taste bitter.

You will have to fight the birds for ripe cones during juniper berry harvest time. If the plant is located on your property, cover it with bird netting to protect those precious cones from greedy birds.

How to Pick Juniper Berries

Harvesting juniper berries can be a slightly painful experience because their leaves are very sharp. Some people even develop a bit of a rash, so make sure you have long sleeves and pants, as well as gloves for your juniper berry harvest.

There are two ways to go about harvesting. The first is to simply pick ripe cones from the tree by hand. As they are rather tiny, this can either be tedious or a nice way to spend a fall afternoon.

If the prospect picking the cones by hand doesn't appeal to you, there is a quicker and easier way. Set a tarp under the plant and then shake it vigorously. Ripe and unripe berries will rain down onto the tarp. Then you just need to separate the purplish-blue ones and leave the rest to grow more plants naturally or to compost into the soil.

With a name like “Blue Star,” this juniper sounds as American as apple pie, but in fact, it is native to Afghanistan, the Himalayas, and western China. Gardeners love Blue Star for its thick, starry, blue-green foliage and its graceful, rounded habit. Read on for more information about Blue Star juniper (Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’), including tips on how to grow a Blue Star juniper in your garden or backyard.

About Blue Star Juniper

Try growing juniper ‘Blue Star’ as either a shrub or a groundcover if you live in an appropriate region. It’s a lovely little mound of a plant with delightful, starry needles in a shade somewhere on the boundary between blue and green. According to information about Blue Star juniper, these plants thrive in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. The foliage is evergreen and the shrubs grow into mounds some 2 to 3 feet (61-91 cm.) high and wide. You have to have patience when you start growing Blue Star, since the shrub doesn’t shoot up overnight. Once it gets settled in though, it’s a champion garden guest. As an evergreen, it delights all year long.

How to Grow a Blue Star Juniper

Blue Star juniper care is a cinch if you plant the shrub correctly. Transplant the seedling into a sunny location in the garden. Blue Star does best in light soil with excellent drainage, but it won’t die if it doesn’t get it. It will tolerate any number of problem conditions (like pollution and dry or clay soil). Don’t make it suffer shade or wet soil. Blue Star juniper care is a snap when it comes to pests and diseases. In short, Blue Star doesn’t have many pests or disease issues at all. Even deer leave it alone, and that is pretty rare for deer. Gardeners and homeowners usually start growing junipers like Blue Star for the texture its evergreen foliage provides to the backyard. As it matures, it seems to undulate with every passing wind, a lovely addition to any garden.

Juniper shrubs and trees are a great asset to landscaping. They can grow tall and eye catching, or they can stay low and shaped into hedges and walls. They can even be formed into topiaries. Sometimes, though, like the best things in life, they get away from us. What was once a smart shrub is now a wild, overgrown monster. So, what can you do with a juniper that’s gotten out of hand? Keep reading to learn more about how to prune an overgrown juniper.

Pruning Unruly Junipers

Can you prune an overgrown juniper? Unfortunately, the answer to this question isn’t a definite yes. Juniper trees and bushes have something called a dead zone. This is a space toward the center of the plant that doesn’t produce new leafy growth. As the plant gets bigger and thicker, sunlight is unable to reach its interior, and the leaves in that space fall off. This is completely natural, and actually the sign of a healthy plant. Sadly, it’s bad news for pruning. If you cut back a branch below the leaves and into this dead zone, no new leaves will grow from it. This means that your juniper can never be pruned smaller than the border of its dead zone. If you keep up with pruning and shaping as the tree or shrub grows, you can keep it compact and healthy. If you try to attempt overgrown juniper pruning, you may discover that you just can’t get the plant down to a size that’s acceptable. If this is the case, the only thing to do is remove the plant and start again with a new one.

How to Prune an Overgrown Juniper

While overgrown juniper pruning has its limits, it is possible to trim your plant down to a more manageable shape. One good place to start is the removal of any dead or leafless branches-- these can be cut off at the trunk. You can also remove any branches that are overlapping or sticking out too far. This will give the remaining healthy branches more room to fill out. Just remember-- if you cut a branch past its leaves, you should cut it off at its base. Otherwise, you’ll be left with a bare patch.

Wichita Blue juniper trees have an attractive broad-pyramid form that works well in a screen or hedge. With gorgeous silver blue foliage all year long, these cultivars turn heads wherever they are planted. For more Wichita Blue juniper information, including tips on where to grow Wichita Blue juniper, read on.

Wichita Blue Juniper Information

Wichita Blue juniper trees (Juniperus scopulorum 'Wichita Blue') are a cultivar of the tree called Rocky Mountain juniper or Colorado red cedar, native to the Rocky Mountains. The species tree can grow to 50 feet (15 m.) tall and 20 feet (6 m.) wide. If you like the look of a Rocky Mountain juniper but have a small garden, Wichita Blue is a good alternative, as this cultivar grows slowly to about 15 feet (5 m.) tall, although it can grow somewhat taller over time. Wichita Blue juniper trees have attractive blue or silvery blue foliage. The color remains true all year long. Another advantage of growing Wichita Blue junipers is the fact that they are all male. This means that you don’t have berries releasing seeds in your yard. That makes Wichita Blue juniper tree care easier.

Where to Grow Wichita Blue Juniper

If you want to start growing Wichita Blue junipers, you’ll be happy to learn that their hardiness range is the same as the species plant. They thrive anywhere in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 7. When you start growing Wichita Blue junipers, site them in a location that gets direct sun. These trees need at least six hours a day of sun to thrive. In order to minimize Wichita Blue juniper care, plant these trees in sandy soil. Excellent drainage is key for junipers and wet soils will kill the plants. That doesn’t mean that Wichita Blue juniper care doesn’t include irrigation. When planting Wichita Blue junipers, you’ll need to water them thoroughly during the first few growing seasons in order to help them establish a deep and extensive root system. Once Wichita Blue trees are established, they are waterwise. You’ll only need to water occasionally. In terms of feeding, don’t overdo it. You can work in organic compost or apply a general-purpose fertilizer. Do this in spring before new growth begins.

Many people who plant a privacy hedge or windbreak need it yesterday. Spartan juniper trees (Juniperus chinensis ‘Spartan’) may be the next best alternative. Spartan is an evergreen that grows extremely quick and can be used to create an attractive hedge or screen. For additional information about Spartan juniper trees, including tips for growing and care, read on.

About Spartan Juniper Trees

Spartan juniper trees are a narrow cultivar of Chinese juniper, Juniper chinensis. The original tree is native to northeast Asia, including China. The Spartan cultivar is also known as Chinese Spartan juniper. Juniper has been grown in China for hundreds of years, well before western gardeners “discovered” the tree. This cultivar grows to some 15 feet (5 m.) tall but remains slender, between 3 to 5 feet (1-1.5 m.) wide. Its dense foliage is dark green and can be clipped into different shapes. Even without being sheared or trimmed, the plants have a uniform shape.

How to Grow a Spartan Juniper

Those interested in growing Spartan juniper will want to start with climate. Chinese Spartan junipers do best in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 or 5 through 9. Select a planting site carefully. The trees grow best in full sun and absolutely require well-drained soil. If you plant them in wet soil, they will likely develop root rot and die. Providing adequate irrigation is an essential part of how to grow a Spartan juniper. Although these trees can develop drought resistance, they take quite a while to establish their root system after transplant. That means regular deep irrigation is important for the first few seasons. You can help the tree develop its roots by loosening up the roots when you remove the plant from its container. Use a knife to break up the tight root mass.

Spartan Juniper Care

Chinese Spartan juniper is usually a healthy plant. These trees are not particularly susceptible to any pest issues or disease problems. Planted in soil with good drainage, they do not get root rot. However, they can be infected with tip and needle blights. Excellent Spartan juniper care can prevent many health issues. Pruning is not an essential part of Spartan juniper care. If you do prune your Spartans, act in summer for best results.

Skyrocket juniper (Juniperus scopulorum 'Skyrocket') is a cultivar of a protected species. According to Skyrocket juniper info, the plant's parent is found wild in the Rocky Mountains of North America in dry, rocky soils. The cultivar is widely available and makes a lovely focal point in the landscape. The vertical, tidy growth is a hallmark of the plant, and its aromatic leaves add to its appeal. Learn some tips on how to grow a Skyrocket juniper and enjoy its rocketing growth and elegant foliage.

Skyrocket Juniper Info

If you enjoy evergreen trees, Skyrocket juniper plants may be the right fit for your garden. These cultivars are narrow columnar trees that may approach 15 to 20 feet (5-6 m.) in height with a 3 to 12 foot (1-4 m.) spread. The natural growth pattern is part of the plant's charm, and its ease of care adds to the allure. This slow growing plant takes up to 50 years to reach maturity, which means it can be used in a large container for many years before it must go in ground. The juniper "Skyrocket" is probably the narrowest juniper variety available. The foliage is bluish green, scale-like, and aromatic when crushed. Like most junipers, it develops tiny, rounded, bluish gray cones that resemble berries. These can take up to two years to fully mature. Even the bark is attractive. It is reddish brown and has an interesting shredding appearance. In the landscape, Skyrocket juniper plants make a beautiful informal screen when planted en masse. They are also useful as specimen plants and their non-invasive roots mean they can even be used as foundation plantings. Many gardeners are even growing Skyrocket juniper as part of a mixed container display.

How to Grow a Skyrocket Juniper

In commercial settings, juniper "Skyrocket" is propagated with semi-hardwood cuttings. The plant is tolerant of both full and partial sun locations. Soil may be any pH, clay, sand, loam, or even chalky. The biggest requirement is a well-draining location, but the plant also does poorly in high humidity. It is suitable for USDA zones 3 to 8. This is an easily transplanted tree that can grow for years in a container and then be moved to a garden bed. Any new plant will need regular watering, but after establishment, this juniper can tolerate brief periods of drought. The fruit can be considered a moderate litter nuisance, but foliage does not produce much mess. Junipers rarely need pruning. Limit trims to removal of dead or damaged wood. Use gloves, as some people are very sensitive to the plant's sap and oil. The major disease to watch for when growing Skyrocket juniper is canker, although juniper blight may also occur. Skyrocket may also serve as a host for cedar-apple rust. Few pests attack junipers, probably due to the highly scented oils. Juniper scale, some caterpillars, and occasionally aphids may cause minimal damage. For the most part, this is a low maintenance, easy-care plant with a host of landscape applications and years of regal beauty in the garden.

Juniper (Juniperus spp.), with its feathery evergreen foliage, can work well in the garden in various capacities: as a groundcover, a privacy screen, or a specimen plant. If you live in a warmer region like zone 9, you’ll still find many types of junipers to plant. Read on for information on growing juniper in zone 9.

Types of Juniper

So many types of juniper exist that you are sure to find at least one perfect for your zone 9 garden. The types available in commerce range from low growing junipers (about ankle height) to upright specimens as tall as trees. Short types of juniper serve well as groundcover and also offer erosion control on slopes. Medium sized juniper shrubs, about knee-height, are good foundation plants, while tall and extra tall types of juniper make good screens, windbreaks, or specimens in your garden.

Juniper Plants for Zone 9

You’ll find many types of juniper plants for zone 9. In fact, most junipers qualify as zone 9 junipers. When you want to start growing juniper in zone 9, you’ll have to make some difficult choices between excellent plants. Bar Harbor juniper (Juniperus horizontalis 'Bar Harbor') is among the most popular short juniper plants for zone 9. It’s great for ornamental groundcover with blue-green foliage that turns purple in winter. If you prefer that your zone 9 junipers have silvery foliage, consider Youngstown juniper (Juniperus horizontalis 'Plumo’). It is also a short juniper with low, trailing branches. For junipers about as tall as you are, you might like Grey Owl (Juniperus virginiana ‘Grey Owl’). The silver-green foliage is lovely, and these zone 9 junipers spread wider than they are tall. If you want to start growing juniper in zone 9 but are thinking of a privacy screen or hedge, consider large or extra-large species. You’ll have many to choose between. For example, California juniper (Juniperus californica) grows to about 15 feet (5 m.) tall. Its foliage is blue-green and very drought resistant. Gold juniper (Juniperus virginianum 'Aurea') is another plant to consider when you are growing juniper in zone 9. It has golden foliage that forms a tall, loose pyramid up to 15 feet (5 m.) tall. For even taller types of juniper, look at Burkii juniper (Juniperus virginiana 'Burkii'). These grow in upright pyramids to 20 feet (6 m.) tall and offer blue-green foliage. Or how about Alligator juniper (Juniperus deppeana) with bark as unique as its common name? The tree bark is patterned like the checkered skin of an alligator. It grows up to 60 feet (18 m.) high.

Few plants are so versatile in the landscape as juniper. Since junipers come in so many shapes and sizes, they are used as large groundcovers, erosion control, trailing over rock walls, for foundation plantings, as hedges, windbreaks, or specimen plants. There are juniper varieties that are hardy in almost every U.S. hardiness zone, but this article will primarily discuss zone 8 juniper care.

Care for Zone 8 Juniper Bushes

Juniper plants come in many different sizes and shape for landscape use. Generally, juniper varieties fall in to one of four size categories: low growing groundcovers, medium growing shrubs, tall columnar shrubs, or large shrub-like trees. Junipers also come in many colors, from light to dark green, blue shades, or yellow shades.

Regardless of shape or color, all junipers have the same growing requirements. Zone 8 juniper plants, like any other juniper plants, prefer to grow in full sun but can tolerate part shade. Junipers are very drought tolerant, and this is important for any plants in zone 8. Many varieties of juniper are also salt tolerant. Junipers grow well in tough situations, specifically poor, dry, clay, or sandy soils.

It is because of its tough nature, growing juniper in zone 8 requires very little work. Care for zone 8 junipers generally involves fertilizing with an all-purpose fertilizer once a year and occasionally trimming out dead brown foliage. Do not unnecessarily prune junipers, as cutting into woody areas will not result in new growth.

Also, pay attention to spacing requirements on spreading groundcovers, as they get very wide and can overcrowd or choke themselves out.

Juniper Plants for Zone 8

Below are some of the best varieties of juniper plants for zone 8, by growth habit.

Low Growing Groundcovers

• Sargentii
• Plumosa Compacta
• Wiltonii
• Blue Rug
• Procumbens
• Parsoni
• Shore Juniper
• Blue Pacific
• San Jose

Medium Growing Shrubs

• Blue Star
• Sea Green
• Saybrook Gold
• Nick’s Compact
• Holbert
• Armstrong
• Gold Coast

Columnar Juniper

• Pathfinder
• Gray Gleam
• Spartan
• Hetz Column
• Blue Point
• Robusta Green
• Kaizuka
• Skyrocket
• Wichita Blue

Large Shrubs/Trees

• Gold Tip Pfitzer
• Eastern Red Cedar
• Southern Red Cedar
• Hetzii Glauca
• Blue Pfitzer
• Blue Vase
• Hollywood
• Mint Julep

Upright junipers are tall, hardy, and slender shrubs to small trees that make a real statement in a landscape. Left to its own devices, a juniper can become lanky. Pruning an upright juniper is essential to keep it looking its best. If you are wondering how to prune an upright juniper or have other questions about upright juniper pruning, read on.

Upright Juniper Pruning

Upright junipers are tall, shrubs/trees that are described as columnar in a landscape setting. They work well in garden spots that are narrow but where a plant with height is needed. When you start pruning an upright juniper, one intent is to keep it narrow and dense. As the branches grow, they can become heavy and pull away from the trunk. This causes the tree to look disheveled, rather than tight and neat. Upright juniper pruning can help a shrub that is losing its shape. You’ll need to start selectively pruning a juniper bush by trimming back each branch’s terminal tip. This will reduce the length and weight of the branch, making it less likely to pull out from the trunk. You can also use an arbor tie to attach sagging branches to the central trunk.

Training an Upright Juniper

Training an upright juniper is another term for pruning the tree when it is young. If you start training an upright juniper early, the tree can grace your garden for years. When to start pruning a juniper bush? Get out the pruners in early spring. Pruning an upright juniper at this time of year gives the tree’s branches time to regrow over the summer season. Spring is also a great time to clip out juniper branches injured in winter weather.

How to Prune an Upright Juniper

Start by taking out dead and dying branches. Remove these at the branch junction. This selective thinning also leaves the upright juniper looking natural and open. Continue pruning a juniper bush until you have removed all broken, diseased, injured, or dead branches. Take out interior branches that have become shaded by other growth. Without sunlight, these branches will die anyway, so it is better to remove them. If you are wondering how to prune an upright juniper when branches cross, you’ll want to prune out one of them. This eliminates the rubbing action. Crossing branches can block air circulation and block out sunlight, conditions that can lead to spread of diseases.

Junipers are evergreen plants that come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. All the way from creeping groundcovers to trees and every size of shrub in between, junipers are unified by their toughness and adaptability in poor growing conditions. Which type of juniper shrubs are best suited to growing in zone 7? Keep reading to learn more about selecting junipers for zone 7.

Growing Juniper Bushes in Zone 7

Junipers are hardy plants that do well in drought conditions. They’ll grow in dry soil that ranges from sand to clay, and they can take a wide range of pH levels. Some are even especially well-suited to salt exposure.

They are also, as a rule, hardy from zone 5 to zone 9. This puts zone 7 right in the middle of the range and zone 7 gardeners in a great position. When growing zone 7 junipers, the question is less one of temperature and more one of other conditions like soil, sun, and desired size.

Best Junipers for Zone 7

Common juniper – The ‘main’ juniper; it grows 10 to 12 feet (3-4 m.) tall and nearly as wide.

Creeping juniper – Low-growing groundcover juniper plants. Different varieties can range from 6 to 36 inches (15-91 cm.) in height with spreads sometimes as big as 8 feet (2 m.) Some popular ones include “Bar Harbor,” “Plumosa,” and “Procumbens.”

Red cedar – Not really a cedar at all, the eastern red cedar (Juniperus viriginiana) is a tree that can range from 8 all the way up to 90 feet (2-27 m.) in height, depending on the variety.

Shore juniper – A low-growing groundcover that tends to top out at 18 inches (46 cm.) high. As its name suggests, shore juniper is very tolerant of salty conditions. Common varieties include “Blue Pacific” and “Emerald Sea.”

Chinese juniper – A large, conical tree. While some varieties reach only 18 inches (46 cm.), others can reach 30 feet (9 m.) or higher. Popular varieties of Chinese juniper include “Blue Point,” “Blue Vase,” and “Pfitzeriana.”

You may know juniper as the most widely distributed evergreen on the planet. But it’s a plant with secrets. Juniper plant benefits include both juniper herbal uses and also culinary. If you’d like more information about juniper shrubs as herb plants, read on.

Juniper as Herb Plants

Juniper plant benefits include their beauty in the garden. Juniper is a popular evergreen shrub that generally stays under 10 feet (3 m.) tall. It is native to Europe, Asia, and North America. The most common variety in this country is Juniperus communis. Juniper shrubs have needle-like leaves and grow seed cones. The outer scales of the cone are a deep blue merging on black. Gardeners refer to these as juniper berries. These berries are used in herbal medicine and give juniper the status of herb plants. The time it takes for juniper scales to mature varies depending on the sex of the tree. Scales from male juniper mature in 18 months while female juniper scales take 2 to 3 years to ripen. Many juniper herbal uses start with scales. Some herbalists argue that immature juniper scales are better medicinally, while others insist that mature scales are more potent.

How to Use Juniper for Herbal Use

How is juniper used herbally? Juniper extracts can be used medicinally or as culinary flavoring. As a medicine, it can be taken internally, inhaled, or applied topically. In Alaska, the Tanainas burn juniper needles on top of a hot wood stove to create an incense. This provides a wonderful smell, and also can aid with a cold. Many other juniper herbal uses start with extracts from the juniper berries/scales. The extracts contain terpinen-4-ol, a compound that stimulates the kidneys. They also contain amentoflavone, another compound with antiviral properties. If you want to burn juniper needles, you can strip some from your garden shrub and begin. It doesn’t take a lot to create a powerful smell. If you are wondering how to use juniper for herbal uses other than burning it, you can purchase juniper commercially in various forms. Look for capsules of oil, teas, and lotions. Some people ingest juniper, often in tea form. This is said to be helpful in treating bronchitis. It may also numb pain, fight inflammation, and increase production of stomach acid. It is also reputed to disinfect the urinary tract. Herbal practitioners suggest that drinking juniper tea helps to flush excess fluids from the body. This diuretic effect gets rid of the body’s excess uric acid. High in natural insulin, juniper may also reduce blood sugar levels. You can also apply essential oil of juniper topically. Rubbed on the skin, it may help with skin issues like acne or athlete's foot. Some use it to treat warts, skin growths, cystitis, psoriasis, and eczema. In addition to scale-berry oil, an oil can be made from juniper wood. It is called cade oil and is considered an important treatment of psoriasis on the scalp. Juniper oil has antibacterial properties, so it can be used to treat skin wounds and snakebites. Rubbing the oil into the skin may also help with joint and muscle pain. Disclaimer: The contents of this article is for educational and gardening purposes only. Before using ANY herb or plant for medicinal purposes, please consult a physician or a medical herbalist for advice.

Found primarily in the United States east of the Rockies, eastern red cedars are members of the Cypress family. These medium sized evergreen trees provide outstanding shelter for many birds and mammals during the winter and make for excellent color in the landscape during otherwise drab months. Interested in growing eastern red cedars? The following article contains information about caring for an eastern red cedar tree and other eastern red cedar facts.

Eastern Red Cedar Facts

Eastern red cedars (Juniperus vinginiana) are also known as juniper, savin evergreen, cedar apple, and Virginia red cedar. The trees are shaped like a pyramid or column with grayish to reddish-brown bark. The foliage is blue-green to green and needlelike. Female and male cones are borne on separate trees. Female trees have little blue balls adorning the branches - the fruit. Inside the fruit there are 1-4 seeds that are spread by birds. The inconspicuous flowers are small and spiky. Male trees have tiny tan colored pine cones, which are the pollen bearing organs of the tree. Pollen is released from these tiny organs at the end of the winter to pollinate the female structures. Red cedars then flower early in the spring. Native Americans used red cedar for incense or to burn during purification rites. The Blackfeet made a berry tea of the red cedar to combat vomiting. They also boiled the leaves in water and mixed the resulting brew with turpentine which was then rubbed on the body to soothe rheumatism and arthritis. The Cheyenne steeped the leaves and drank the tea to calm coughs or throat problems. A tea was also used to hasten childbirth. Other Native Americans used the eastern red cedar for everything from asthma, colds, diarrhea, fevers, tonsillitis, and pneumonia. Topical concoctions were used to slow bleeding as well. Eastern red cedar information could also be found listed in the U.S. Pharmocopoeia from 1820-1894 for use as a diuretic. Red cedars can often be found in cemeteries as ornamentals. The wood is used for furniture, paneling, fence posts, and novelties. Both the fruit and tender young branches contain oil that is used in medicines. As mentioned, many birds and small mammals rely on the cedar for shelter during the winter months. The tender branches are also eaten by larger hoofed mammals. Many birds, from juncos to waxwings to sparrows, feast on the red cedar berries.

Caring for an Eastern Red Cedar Tree

Growing eastern red cedars saplings can often be obtained from a nursery or if they are common in your area, they might just pop up unbidden from seeds deposited by birds.

Cuttings

Red cedars can also be propagated via cuttings. Cuttings should be taken in late fall, winter or spring when the tree is dormant and the sap has slowed. Try to take the cutting in the early morning. To grow a cedar from a cutting, you will need a 3 to 6 inch (7.5-15 cm.) piece of current year’s growth. Choose a branch that is flexible and light brown and cut it at a 45-degree angle. Pinch off any foliage from the bottom of the cutting and wrap it in wet paper towels place in a bucket of ice to keep them cold until you plant them. Plan to get them in the ground within an hour or two. Fill a medium sized pot with a soilless potting mixture. Dip the cut portion of the cutting in rooting hormone, tap off any excess and put the cutting into the soilless mix. Pat the mix firmly down around the cutting. Place the pot into a clear plastic bag that is sealed with a twist tie. Store the cutting in a warm room with bright but indirect light. Mist the cuttings daily with a spray bottle and reseal the bags afterwards. In four weeks, test the cuttings by giving them a gentle tug. If they resist, rooting has taken place. Transplant the cuttings into pots of regular soil after 3 months and take them outside to acclimate gradually. They can then be planted into the garden in the late fall.

Seed propagation

Propagation of eastern red saplings can also be done with seeds, but it will likely take longer. If you aren’t in a hurry, gather fruit in the fall. Try to pick only ripe berries and pick plenty since germination rates tend to be iffy. The seeds can then be stored as berries or cleaned seeds. To get to the seeds, soften the fruit with a drop of detergent in some water. The detergent will help make the seeds float to the top. Gather the floating seeds and allow them to dry on paper towels. Store the dried seeds in a sealed container in the refrigerator. You can also lay the fruit out to dry and then shake the seeds out of the cones after a few days. Then clean the seeds of any dirt or debris by gently rubbing them; don’t use water or the seeds may begin to rot. Store them in the refrigerator or other dark area of between 20-40 degrees F. (-6-4 C.). To take advantage of natural chilling, sow seeds in the fall. Otherwise, seeds may be sown in the spring or summer, after a period of stratification. Prior to planting, stratify seeds for a month. Layer seeds between layers of moistened peat moss. Place the entirety into sealed containers and store in an area that has temps of between 30-40 degrees F. (-1-4 C.). Once the seeds have stratified, sow the seeds in the spring at a depth of ¼ inch (0.5 cm.) in moist soil.

The sub-zero winters and short summers of USDA plant hardiness zone 3 present a real challenge for gardeners, but cold hardy juniper plants make the job easier. Choosing hardy junipers is easy too, because many junipers grow in zones 3 and a few are even tougher!

Growing Junipers in Zone 3 Gardens

Once established, junipers are drought tolerant. All prefer full sun, although a few types will tolerate very light shade. Nearly any type of soil is fine as long as it’s well-drained and never soggy. Here’s a list of suitable junipers for zone 3.

Spreading Zone 3 Junipers

• Arcadia – this juniper reaches only 12 to 18 inches (30-45 cm.) and its nice green color and creeping growth makes it a great ground cover in the garden.
• Broadmoor – another ground covering juniper, this one is a bit taller, reaching about 2-3 feet (0.5-1 m.) in height with a 4 to 6 foot (1-2 m.) spread.
• Blue Chip – this low-growing (only 8 to 10 inches (20-25 cm.)), silvery-blue juniper looks great in areas needing quick coverage while adding contrast.
• Alpine Carpet – even smaller at up to 8 inches (20 cm.), Alpine Carpet fills in areas nicely with its 3-foot (1 m.) spread and features an attractive blue-green color.
• Blue Prince – only 6 inches (15 cm.) high with a 3 to 5 feet (1-1.5 m.) spread, this juniper produces a lovely blue color that can’t be beat.
• Blue Creeper – this blue-green variety spreads up to 8 feet (2.5 m.), making it a great choice for larger areas of the garden in need of ground cover.
• Prince of Wales – another great ground covering juniper reaching a mere 6 inches (15 cm.) in height, Prince of Wales has a 3 to 5 feet (1-1.5 m.) spread and offers additional interest with its purplish tinted foliage in winter.
• Old Gold – if you’re tired of the same old green, then this attractive creeping juniper is sure to please, offering somewhat taller (2 to 3 feet), brilliant gold foliage to the landscape scene.
• Blue Rug – another silver-blue type with low growing foliage, this juniper covers up to 8 feet (2.5 m.), having a growth habit much akin to its name.
• Savin – an attractive deep green juniper, this variety reaches anywhere from 2 to 3 feet (0.5-1 m.) tall with a spread of about 3 to 5 feet (1-1.5 m.).
• Skandia – another good choice for zone 3 gardens, Skandia features bright green foliage of about 12 to 18 inches (30-45 cm.).

Upright Junipers for Zone 3

• Medora – this upright juniper reaches heights of about 10 to 12 feet (3-4 m.) with nice blue-green foliage.
• Sutherland – another good juniper for height, this one reaches around 20 feet (6 m.) at maturity and produces a nice silvery-green color.
• Wichita Blue – a great juniper for smaller landscapes, reaching only 12 to 15 feet (4-5 m.) tall, you’ll love its beautiful blue foliage.
• Tolleson’s Blue Weeping - this 20-foot (6 m.) tall juniper produces gracefully arching branches of silvery blue, adding something different to the landscape.
• Cologreen – featuring compact narrow growth, this upright juniper makes a great accent screen or hedge, taking shearing quite well for more formal settings.
• Arnold Common – a slender, conical juniper reaching only 6 to 10 feet (2-3 m.), this one is perfect from creating vertical interest in the garden. It also features feathery, soft green aromatic foliage.
• Moonglow – this 20-foot (6 m.) tall juniper has silvery blue foliage year round with an upright columnar to slightly pyramidal shape.
• Eastern Red Cedar – don’t let the name fool you…this is, in fact, a juniper rather than a cedar as is often mistaken. This 30-foot (10 m.) tree has attractive gray-green foliage.
• Sky High – another name leaving you in wonder, Sky High junipers only reach 12 to 15 feet (4-5 m.) tall, not so high when you think about it. That said, it’s a great choice for the landscape with its attractive silvery blue foliage.

Junipers are attractive evergreen ornamentals that produce edible berries, popular with humans as well as wildlife. You’ll find 170 species of juniper in commerce, with either needle-like or scale-like foliage. They offer a striking color range, from light to bottle green, silver-blue to dark blue, and yellow to gold. Want to know what to plant next to juniper? How about shrubs that would make good companion plants for juniper? Read on for information on plants that grow well with juniper.

Companion Plants for Juniper

Tall and tree like or short groundcover? Juniper varieties come in all shapes and sizes. Some are tall enough that they work well for privacy hedges, while others are perfect for foundation planting or covering that slope. For example, Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) presents as a pyramidal tree up to 50 feet (15 m.) tall. It can be a specimen tree in the backyard or part of a very tall windbreak. In contrast, certain cultivars of creeping junipers (Juniperus horizontalis) get no taller than 6 inches (15 cm.). Once you’ve selected your juniper plant, you’ll have to think about what to plant next to junipers. Plants that grow well with juniper—juniper plant companions—will have the same soil, sun, and irrigation requirements. Generally, juniper shrubs thrive with a full sun location. They also require soil with good drainage. Drought resistant, junipers withstand heat and dry periods much better than most ornamentals. The best juniper companion plants will have the same characteristics.

Plants that Grow Well with Juniper

What are good companion plants for juniper? That depends on the juniper you plant in your garden. If you have a juniper shrub with deep-blue needles like the dwarf conifer Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star,’ for instance, then consider a golden dwarf conifer of another species. Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Nana Lutea’ has the same requirements as the Blue Star juniper and adds light and color with its soft tufts of brilliant gold foliage. Any juniper with blue foliage also looks good near other blue-hued plants. Plants with blue flowers, berries, or leaves make good companion plants for juniper. When you are looking for juniper plant companions, think about bamboo. Bamboo species, particularly dwarf bamboo plants, are also good choices for juniper companion plants. Tall bamboo mixes well with tall junipers, while groundcover juniper blends seamlessly with dwarf bamboo. As previously stated, nearly any plant sharing similar growing conditions works well with juniper. Look for drought tolerant perennials with various bloom times to add sparks of color here and there for seasonal interest.

Plants in the Juniperus genus are termed “juniper” and come in various forms. Because of this, juniper species can play many different roles in the backyard. Is juniper a tree or bush? It is both, and much more. Junipers are evergreen, coniferous plants with scaly leaves, but the height and presentation vary considerably among varieties. You’ll find junipers that look like ground cover, shrubs, or tall trees. Growing juniper trees or bushes is not difficult. Read on to learn about juniper tree varieties and juniper tree care.

Juniper Tree Varieties

If you are looking for a ground shrub with a flat or a mounded form, think juniper. If you want to create a hedge of upright evergreen bushes, think juniper. If you need a tall, evergreen tree in the sunny spot in your garden, think juniper. Juniper species come in all sizes and shapes, from low-lying shrubs that cover sand dunes to huge ancient trees in the high Sierras. North America boasts 13 native juniper species, and there are four times that number worldwide.

Juniper Trees vs. Shrubs

Since shrubs are nothing more than short trees, the line between the two types of plants is always a blurred one. Some cases are clearer than others. For example, California juniper (Juniperus californica) is considered a low, coastal shrub, because it stays close to the ground, but western juniper (J. occidentalis) always presents as a tall tree, sculpted by the wind. But sometimes categorizing a juniper as a tree or a shrub is more difficult. Pfitzer juniper (J. chinensis 'Pfitzerana'), perhaps the most popular cultivated juniper, grows to 5 feet (1.5 m.) high and 10 feet (3 m.) wide, and is considered a small tree by some, and a shrub by others. This is also the case with Hetz Chinese juniper (J. chinensis 'Hetzii'), which grows to 15 feet (4.5 m.) tall.

How to Plant Juniper Trees

Juniper tree care is easier when you pick an appropriate location for planting. Taking the time to select the right spot for your juniper tree can save you time and energy later. When you are growing juniper trees, you’ll need a location with full sun or almost, as well as well-drained soil. Junipers do not like having their feet in wet mud, but tolerate most other types of soil. Generally, junipers support hot weather and poor, dry soils. They tolerate city conditions as well as any other evergreen. Consider the mature size of the tree before you plant juniper. Many species grow so fast that they rapidly occupy the space allotted. You can prune upright junipers to keep them compact.

Juniper Tree Care

Like all trees, junipers occasionally suffer from diseases. Phomopsis blight is the most serious disease that attacks juniper. You can identify it by looking for browning branch tips. Control this disease by spraying the new growth several times during the growing season with a fungicide.

Although the original species (Juniperus chinensis) is a medium to large tree, you won't find these trees in garden centers and nurseries. Instead, you'll find Chinese juniper shrubs and small trees which are cultivars of the original species. Plant taller varieties as screens and hedges and use them in shrub borders. Low-growing varieties serve as foundation plants and groundcovers, and they work well in perennial borders.

Caring for Chinese Juniper

Chinese junipers prefer moist, well-drained soil, but they will adapt almost anywhere as long as they get plenty of sun. They tolerate drought better than excessively wet conditions. Keep the soil evenly moist until the plants become established. Once they begin to grow, they are practically carefree. You can reduce the maintenance even more by reading the mature plant measurements on the plant tag and choosing a variety that fits the space. They have a lovely natural shape and will not need pruning unless crowded into a space that is too small. They don't look as nice when pruned and won't tolerate severe pruning.

Chinese Juniper Groundcovers

Many of the Chinese juniper groundcover varieties are crosses between J. chinensis and J. sabina. The most popular varieties for this purpose grow only 2 to 4 feet (61 cm. to 1 m.) tall and spread 4 feet (1 m.) wide or more. If you plan on growing a Chinese juniper plant as a groundcover, look for one of these cultivars:

• 'Procumbens,' or Japanese garden juniper, grows 2 feet (61 cm.) tall with a spread of up to 12 feet (4 m.). The stiff horizontal branches are covered with blue-green, wispy-looking foliage.
• ‘Emerald Sea' and ‘Blue Pacific' are members of a group called Shore Junipers. They grow 12 to 18 inches (31-46 cm.) tall with a spread of 6 feet (2 m.) or more. Their salt tolerance makes them a very popular seaside plant.
• ‘Gold Coast' grows 3 feet (1 m.) tall and 5 feet (1.5 m.) wide. It has unusual, gold-tinted foliage.

Juniper shrubs (Juniperus) provide the landscape with well defined structure and a fresh fragrance that few other shrubs can match. The care of juniper shrubbery is easy because they never need pruning to maintain their attractive shape and tolerate adverse conditions without complaint. 

Anyone interested in providing habitat for wildlife should consider growing junipers. The National Wildlife Federation counts juniper shrubs as one of the top 10 plants for wildlife because they provide an abundance of food, shelter from harsh weather, and nesting sites for birds.

Juniper Info

There are more than 170 cultivated varieties of juniper, including low-growing ground cover or edging plants, shrubs, and trees. The shapes include narrow columns, tight pyramids, and rounded forms that spread as wide as their height or more. 

The fragrant foliage can be either needles or overlapping scales. Some shrubs have both types of foliage because the leaves start out as needles and transition to scales as they mature. Juniper shrubs are either male or female. The male flowers provide the pollen for the female flowers, and once pollinated, the females produce berries or cones. One male shrub can provide pollen for several females.

How to Take Care of Junipers

Plant juniper shrubs in a location with full sun or light shade. When they get too much shade, the branches spread apart in an effort to let more sunlight in, and the damage to their shape can't be repaired. Junipers grow in any type of soil as long as it is well-drained. 

Many types make excellent street shrubs because they tolerate the spray from road salt and other urban pollution. Plant container-grown junipers any time of year. Shrubs with balled and burlaped roots are best planted in fall. Dig the planting hole as deep as the root ball and two to three times wider. 

Set the shrub in the hole so the soil line on the stem is even with the surrounding soil. Backfill with the soil removed from the hole without amendments. Press down firmly as you fill the hole to remove air pockets. Water deeply after planting and add additional soil if it settles into a depression. Water young shrubs during dry spells for the first two years. 

Afterward, the shrub is drought tolerant and can make do with what nature provides. Fertilize the shrub with 10-10-10 fertilizer in spring of the year after planting and every other year thereafter.

If you're looking for a low-growing ground cover that thrives on neglect, give creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis) a try.

These graceful, aromatic shrubs spread to fill sunny areas and can be used as foundation plants or accents in flower borders. Use them near decks, porches, and garden seating where you can enjoy their pleasant fragrance.

About Creeping Junipers

Creeping juniper is a low-growing, evergreen shrub that's often used as a ground cover. It features plume-like branches that extend horizontally. The foliage often has a blue-green cast in spring and summer and a plum-colored tint in winter.

Male and female flowers grow on separate plants, and the female plants produce berries. Neither the flowers nor the berries are particularly ornamental. 

Their height varies depending on the cultivar. They may be as short as 6 to 8 inches (15 to 20.5 cm.) or as tall as two feet (61 cm.). Each plant can spread as much 6 to 8 feet (2 to 2.5 m.).

Creeping juniper ground cover is ideal for xeriscaping. Growing creeping junipers on slopes and hillsides helps prevent soil erosion as well.

Creeping Juniper Requirements

Creeping juniper adapts to almost any soil, including soil that's hot, dry, and poor in fertility. In fact, these little shrubs flourish in hot, dry conditions near walls and sidewalks where most ornamentals won't survive. 

You can also take advantage of their drought resistance by planting them in areas where irrigation isn't always possible.

While they thrive in clay, compacted, and sandy soils where grass refuses to grow, the shrubs prefer well-drained soil and a sunny location.

Creeping Juniper Care

As with most juniper shrub care, creeping juniper is a low-maintenance plant that never needs pruning or cutting back. In fact, creeping junipers won't tolerate a lot of pruning. However, you can remove some of the plants if it spreads beyond its boundaries, though it may be easier to select a species or cultivar that naturally grows to a height and spread to fit the site you have in mind. 

Watch for insects and diseases. Control bagworms and webworms by removing and destroying the bags and webs. Control scale insects, spider mites, leaf miners, and aphids with insecticides labeled for the target insect. 

Creeping juniper is susceptible to several fungal diseases that cause yellowing, browning, and dieback. Cut off infected parts of the plant and use a fungicide labeled for use on junipers.

Twig blight is a fungal disease that most often occurs in early spring when leaf buds have just opened. It attacks the tender new shoots and terminal ends of plants. Phomopsis twig blight is one of the more common fungi that cause the disease in junipers. Juniper twig blight disease is a disfiguring plant problem, although annual persistent symptoms can cause severe damage to young plants.

Juniper Twig Blight Disease

Juniper twig blight can be caused by Phomopsis, Kabatina, or Scllerophoma pythiophila but the more commonly found is the Phomopsis fungus. Fungi thrive when there is adequate moisture and warm temperatures, which is why this juniper disease shows up in spring. It not only affects juniper but also arborvitae, white cedar, cypress, and false cypress.

Twig Blight Symptoms

Juniper twig blight is characterized by the dieback of the terminal growth of an afflicted evergreen plant. The foliage will turn light green, reddish brown, or even dark gray and the dead tissue will gradually creep into the central foliage of the plant. The fungi will eventually produce tiny black fruiting bodies that appear three to four weeks after infection. The new tissue is the most often infected with juniper twig blight and symptoms show up approximately two weeks later. The fungus reproduces from spores, which can be born on wind or cling to animals and clothes but are more often moved via water. During the wet spring, the fungus is most active and can be spread by splashing water, droplets carried in the air, and introduced into damaged or cut wood. Phomopsis can attack the juniper in spring, summer, and in fall. Any material that contracts the fungus in the fall will show symptoms in spring.

Phomopsis Twig Blight

Phomopsis, the most common form of juniper twig blight, can progress to girdle young branches and prevent water and nutrients from reaching the ends of the growth. It may move into main branches and cause cankers which are the open areas of tissue in woody plant material. This form of juniper twig blight will produce fruiting bodies called pycnidia that can be found at the base of dead foliage.

Juniper Twig Blight Prevention

Good twig blight control starts with good clean-up practices. Sterilization of cutting implements will also help prevent the spread of the fungus. Fungi are spread via spores that can adhere to equipment or overwinter in dropped foliage and plant material. Rake up any debris under your juniper and prune out diseased foliage tips. Sterilize the cutting implement between cuts with a ten percent bleach and water solution. Cut out infected material when the twigs are dry to minimize the spread of the fungal spores. Chemicals for the control of juniper twig blight disease must be applied before symptoms are noticed to be useful. Most common fungicides offer limited control if they are not paired with good mechanical management and prevention. Fungicide applications will have to be done throughout the season since Phomopsis can occur at any time during the growing period. Benomyl or fixed copper has shown to be useful if applied regularly and consistently.