Genus Juniperus (Juniper)

Juniperus chinensis 'Iowa' Photo/Illustration: Todd Meier

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Common Name: Juniper Synonyms: Sabina

In the genus Juniperus are evergreen, coniferous shrubs and trees of about 50 or 60 species that originate in the dry forests and hillsides of the Northern hemisphere.
Noteworthy characteristics: Attractive foliage and, sometimes, cones. Junipers are tolerant of a wide variety of sites and have many uses, including in the rock garden and as groundcovers or specimens.
Care: Well-drained soil of any type, full sun or very light shade. Very little if any pruning needed.
Propagation: Junipers are difficult to grow from seed, as germination is very slow, so take ripe cuttings in late fall through winter and root in a humid cold frame. Or take softwood cuttings in summer and place under mist with bottom heat.
Problems: Leaf miners, bark beetles, scale insects, aphids, mites, and caterpillars (especially bagworms) are common, while Phomopsis twig blight, cedar-apple rust, dieback and canker, lesion nematodes, brown felt blight, and a variety of heart and wood rots are very common.

Species, varieties and cultivars for genus Juniperus

Juniperus × pfitzeriana ‘Daub’s Frosted’
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Hardiness Zones:

This evergreen shrub has a low, spreading habit and attractive, two-toned foliage. The pendulous foliage tips are frosted with gold on the upper surface and blue-green foliage on the underside. 'Daub's Frosted' reaches 15 inches tall by 5 feet wide at maturity. Dark purple fruit becomes paler later.

Juniperus × pfitzeriana ‘Mint Julep’
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Hardiness Zones:

This evergreen shrub has rich, bright-green fine-textured foliage in summer. The compact habit is fountain-like, as its branches arch at a 60° angle out from its base. Reaches a mature size of 4 to 5 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide.

Juniperus chinensis 'Iowa'
(Chinese juniper) Be the first to rate this plant

Hardiness Zones:

This is a slow-growing evergreen shrub with a formal appearance, with its narrow, columnar form and outstanding gray-green foliage. It grows to 15 feet tall and 10 feet wide at maturity. Its growth remains dense as it matures. Silvery-blue, waxy berries are highly decorative.

Juniperus chinensis ‘Shoosmith’
(Chinese juniper) Be the first to rate this plant

Hardiness Zones:

'Shoosmith' is an evergreen shrub with a broad spreading habit, reaching 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide at maturity. Light-green juvenile foliage and rich dark-green adult foliage on the same plant creates a two-toned effect.

Juniperus horizontalis 'Wiltonii'
(Blue rug juniper, Wilton's juniper) Be the first to rate this plant

Hardiness Zones:

This creeping shrub has a prostrate form and dense, steely blue foliage. The mature height is 1 foot tall. Scale-like green leaves turn a dull purple in winter. Blue rug juniper creates a flat ground cover. It grows 6 to 12 inches per year and bears ovoid dark blue fruit.

Juniperus sabina ‘Blue Forest’
(Savin juniper) Be the first to rate this plant

Hardiness Zones:

This spreading, low-growing shrub has attractive bluish-green foliage and unusual upturned branches that create the appearance of a miniature blue forest. The mature size is 10 inches tall, with a spread that can reach 4 feet wide.

Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star'
(Singleseed juniper) Be the first to rate this plant

Hardiness Zones:

'Blue Star' jumiper is a slow-growing, compact, evergreen shrub with a mounding shape. Its silver blue foliage is attractive in all seasons, and its blue, berry-like, female cones each contain one seed, hence its common name.

Juniperus squamata ‘Holger’
(Singleseed juniper) Be the first to rate this plant

Hardiness Zones:

'Holger' is a prostrate shrub with a semi-spreading form and narrow pointed leaves. Young growth emerges a soft sulfur-yellow, contrasting with steel-blue mature leaves. This plant bears glossy black fruit.