Homeowners are reconsidering juniper shrubs as they seek low-maintenance greenery that stays attractive all year round. While junipers have long been a common choice in landscaping as evergreen foundation plants, they were often viewed as ordinary. However, in recent years, new and exciting juniper varieties have sparked renewed interest in these plants. Here are some top juniper shrub options to explore, along with expert advice on choosing the right varieties for your landscape.
Expert Tim Wood, a horticulturist at Spring Meadow Nursery, notes the resurgence of junipers and highlights their durability, drought tolerance, ease of care, adaptability to various soil conditions, and resistance to deer. With a wide array of colors and forms available, junipers offer options ranging from low-growing spreads to taller trees. While there are over 50 juniper species, only a handful are commonly cultivated for ornamental purposes.
Low-growing spreading junipers, such as the popular creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis), make excellent groundcovers due to their dense, colorful foliage and minimal maintenance requirements. Notable cultivars include ‘Wiltonii’, known for its steely blue foliage, ‘Bar Harbor’ with bluish-green leaves turning reddish-purple in winter, ‘Mother Lode’ featuring golden yellow foliage, ‘Green Carpet’ with bright-green leaves maturing to dark green, and ‘Blue Pacific’ with heat-tolerant, blue-green foliage and a low spreading habit.
These juniper shrubs offer a range of heights, spreads, colors, and textures, making them versatile choices for various landscape settings.
Standing just 1 foot tall, but spreading 6-7 feet wide, J. conferta ‘Silver Mist’ is a shade-tolerant juniper with silvery blue-green new growth. It is ideal for mass plantings, reaching 1-2 feet in height and 3-5 feet in width (Zones 5-9). J. procumbens ‘Nana’ is a Japanese juniper forming a dense mat of prickly blue-green needles that turn slightly purplish in winter. It grows slowly to 6-12 inches tall and 3-6 feet wide (Zones 4-9). J. sabina Calgary Carpet features soft green foliage and a low spreading habit, making it great for groundcover on slopes or walkways. It grows to 9 inches tall but spreads up to 10 feet wide (Zones 3-7). ‘Blue Star’ juniper, known for its textured blue evergreen foliage and mounding habit, reaches 1-3 feet tall and wide (Zones 4-8).
Medium-sized shrubby junipers typically grow 1-4 feet tall and have attractive horizontal branching. While they can be pruned into various shapes, it is recommended to maintain a natural look. Noteworthy cultivars include J. chinensis ‘Gold Lace’ with gold color and a spreading habit (Zones 4-9), J. chinensis ‘Angelica Blue’ with waxy blue foliage (Zones 3-9), J. chinensis ‘Saybrook Gold’ with gold-needle foliage (Zones 4-9), and J. chinensis Montana Moss with soft, moss-like foliage (Zones 4-9). J. communis Tortuga is a tough juniper with fluffy jade green foliage (Zones 2-7), while J. virginiana ‘Grey Owl’ has soft, silvery-gray foliage (Zones 2-9). J. x pfitzeriana Sea of Gold dazzles with lacy, golden yellow foliage (Zones 3-9).
These juniper shrubs offer a variety of options for landscaping projects.
S, with mature heights ranging from 3 to 40 feet. “The upright junipers have gained popularity as they serve as excellent alternatives to arborvitae in regions where deer pose a problem,” Wood states. “Our native Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) stands out as one of the most graceful upright junipers, alongside various other upright species and cultivars. Once these varieties reach maturity, they demand minimal pruning or shearing.”
These vertically growing junipers are commonly utilized as privacy screens and as backdrops for other ornamental plants. At times, they serve as focal points in landscapes. Notable cultivars include:
– J. chinensis ‘Aurea’ – A slender, upright grower with vibrant golden yellow foliage, reaching a height of 35 feet and a width of 15 feet. Suitable for Zones 5-9.
– J. chinensis ‘Blue Point’ – Boasting dense blue-green foliage on a broad-pyramidal-shaped juniper, this cultivar rarely requires pruning to maintain its formal appearance. It grows to a height of 12 feet and a width of 8 feet. Ideal for Zones 4-9.
– J. chinensis Gin Fizz – Displaying a conical habit and deep evergreen foliage that sets the stage for an abundant yield of sage green and blue berries. It attains a height of 10-18 feet and a width of 7-10 feet. Suited for Zones 4-9.
– J. communis ‘Gold Cone’ – A densely packed evergreen featuring an upright, narrow habit. ‘Gold Cone’ dazzles with its golden new growth that transitions to bluish-green in winter. It grows to a height of 3-5 feet and a width of 1-2 feet. Recommended for Zones 2-6.
– J. scropulorum ‘Blue Arrow’ – Among the narrowest junipers, ‘Blue Arrow’ serves as a colorful focal point in landscapes with its columnar habit and tightly packed blue-green foliage. It reaches a height of 12-15 feet but only 2 feet wide. Suitable for Zones 4-9.
– J. scropulorum ‘Skyrocket’ – A fast-growing variety with blue-gray foliage, ‘Skyrocket’ presents a slender, columnar profile ideal as an accent plant or when massed as a backdrop. It matures at a height of 20 feet and a width of 3 feet. Best for Zones 4-9.
– J. scropulorum ‘Wichita Blue’ – A slow-growing cultivar featuring handsome silvery-blue foliage and a neat pyramidal habit. It reaches a height of 15 feet and a width of 6 feet. Suitable for Zones 3-7.
– J. virginana ‘Emerald Sentinel’ – Characterized by a narrow, pyramidal form and dark green foliage that retains its color
