With feathery and graceful foliage, juniper works its magic to fill in empty spaces in your garden. This evergreen conifer, with distinctive blue-green foliage, comes in a variety of forms and grows in many climates. If you live in USDA plant hardiness zone 4, you may wonder if juniper can grow and thrive in your garden. Read on for the information you need about junipers for zone 4.
Cold Hardy Juniper Plants
Zone 4 regions of the country get pretty cold, with winter temperatures sinking well below 0 degrees F. (-18 C.). Yet, many conifers thrive in this zone, including cold hardy juniper plants. They grow in many regions of the nation, thriving in zones 2 through 9. Junipers have many plus factors in addition to their delightful foliage. Their flowers appear in spring and subsequent berries attract wild birds. The refreshing fragrance of their needles is a delight, and the trees are surprisingly low maintenance. Zone 4 junipers grow well in the ground and also in containers. What types of junipers for zone 4 are available in commerce? Many, and they range from ground huggers to tall specimen trees. If you want groundcover, you’ll find zone 4 junipers that fit the bill. 'Blue Rug' creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis) is a trailing shrub that only grows 6 inches (15 cm.) tall. This silver-blue juniper thrives in zones 2 through 9. If you are thinking of growing junipers in zone 4 but need something slightly taller, try golden common juniper (Juniperus communis 'Depressa Aurea') with it golden shoots. It grows to 2 feet (61 cm.) tall in zones 2 through 6. Or consider 'Grey Owl' juniper (Juniperus virginiana 'Grey Owl'). It rises to 3 feet tall (1 m.) in zones 2 through 9. The tips of the silver foliage turn purple in winter. For a specimen plant among zone 4 junipers, plant gold juniper (Juniperus virginianum 'Aurea') that grows up to 15 feet (5 m.) tall in zones 2 through 9. Its shape is a loose pyramid, and its foliage is golden. If you want to start growing junipers in zone 4, you’ll be happy to learn that these are easy to cultivate. They transplant easily and grow with little care. Plant junipers for zone 4 in a full sun location. They’ll do best in moist, well-drained soil.