Juniper best varieties

Juniper is known for its rich variety of species. Some plants are so different from each other that doubt creeps in about their belonging to the same genus. We suggest paying attention to the most popular varieties of juniper.

Juniper is the most winter-hardy representative of conifers, therefore it is ideal for growing in regions with an unstable climate. Most often, in summer cottages, you can find common junipers, Virginia and Cossack junipers. They grow well without much care and take root easily, therefore they are popular among novice gardeners. Let's take a closer look at these junipers and their best varieties.

Common juniper (Juniperus communis)

This coniferous plant grows well both in the sun and in the shade. It is resistant to drought and frost, easily adapts to all types of soil, although it prefers sand and limestone.

Common juniper looks great both in single and in group plantings. It is often grown alongside roses, heathers, erika and flowering shrubs.

Depressa Aurea
	This juniper grows to a height of only 40 cm, but its diameter is 1.5-2 m. Short shoots sticking upwards with golden yellow needles, which darken in autumn and turn bronze in winter, are very attractive. The plant looks as impressive as possible when grown in a lighted place: in the shade, the needles lose their brightness, the crown looses.

Meyer

This unpretentious shrub with a wide columnar crown and slightly hanging ends of vertical shoots grows quickly and tolerates cutting well, therefore it is ideal for creating attractive compositions with conifers. Plant height - up to 4 m, crown diameter - 1.5 m. The needles are attractive with an unusual color: they are bluish-gray with a silvery tint. For the winter, it is recommended to tie the juniper shoots with a rope so that they do not break off under the weight of the snow.

Green Carpet
	This sprawling juniper, up to 1 m high and 1.8 m wide, grows quickly and does not need careful maintenance. It has short, dense, thorny needles of an emerald green color. The shoots of the plant are first directed to the sides and up, then lie horizontally, and the ends of the branches go down. When grown in shady places, the color of the needles becomes less contrasting.

Juniper virginiana (Juniperus virginiana)

This tree up to 2.5 m high tolerates formative pruning, although it is not recommended to cut many junipers, as they may slow down the growth of shoots. Therefore, it is the Virginia juniper that is ideal for growing as a hedge and topiary. In group plantings, it looks good in the vicinity of acacia, birch and other conifers: larch, pine, cypress, thuja.

The plant tolerates drought and shade well, is not very demanding on the composition of the soil, is not afraid of frost.

Scyrocket
	Dense columnar shrub with a height of 5 to 8 m and a width of 0.5 to 1 m. The needles are scaly, gray-green, bluish-green or silvery-gray, short and sharp. In autumn, blue-gray cones appear on the branches. The plant prefers sunny areas without stagnant water (in other conditions it grows poorly and loses its attractiveness), but it tolerates drought well and does not need additional watering.

Hetz Variegata

An adult plant reaches a height of 3-4 m, the crown diameter is 4-6 m. The crown is spreading, squat, the shoots first grow horizontally and then fall down. This juniper variety has gained wide popularity due to its attractive needles: they are scaly, bluish-green with creamy yellow dots. At the same time, it does not fade under the rays of the aggressive spring sun. When grown in the shade, the color of the needles becomes pale. In hot summer, it is recommended to water the plant 2-3 times per season.

Juniper Cossack (Juniperus sabina)

This juniper is found in our gardens more often than others. The height of the shrub is up to 1.5 m. When rubbed in the palms of its needles, it exudes a pungent odor.

The cones of the Cossack juniper are inedible.

Juniper Cossack branches are often spread over the ground. They quickly take root in the soil, so the plant rapidly spreads to the sides and forms dense thickets (up to 20 m long).

This juniper is also undemanding to the composition of the soil, it tolerates drought, gusty wind and frost, it can grow in the shade, but it looks more beautiful in the sun. Recommended for growing in small backyard gardens and rock gardens.

Tamariscifolia (Tamariscifolia), or Tamaris
	This juniper grows slowly and at the age of 10 it reaches no more than 30 cm in height with a diameter of 1.5-2 m. The needles are in the form of short needles of light green or bluish green color. During prolonged rains, the plant is susceptible to fungal diseases.

Glauca
	This low shrub with a spreading crown grows rapidly in breadth. Its bluish-green needles acquire a beautiful bronze hue in winter. Against the background of spectacular needles, brown-black cones with a gray waxy bloom look great. Juniper is unpretentious and does not need maintenance, but it does not tolerate stagnant water and high salt content in the soil.

We told you about the most popular types and varieties of juniper that are most often used in landscape design. But this does not mean that other forms in our latitudes take root badly. With minimal maintenance, the garden can be decorated with junipers of any varieties.

 

Juniper is a beautiful, drought-resistant, light-loving, long-lived plant. More than seventy of its species are known. Many interesting varieties have been bred - juniper is grown both in the middle lane and in cold regions.

Juniper: species and varieties

Juniper varieties

The most famous are the following types and varieties of juniper.

• Common juniper - this species is highly frost-resistant. He is not picky about the composition of the soil. Ripening of berries takes 2 years.

• The middle juniper stands out against the background of other shrubs with an open crown shape. The plant is relatively winter-hardy - it needs shelter only in the first years of life.

• Juniper virginiana in height can reach 30 m. The plant prefers a dry steppe climate.

• The horizontal juniper is characterized by excellent adaptability - it feels good both in hot and cold climates.

• Daurian juniper is extremely unpretentious - it grows equally well both in the southeast of Siberia and in warm regions.

• Juniper Cossack - a prostrate or creeping bush. The plant is characterized by excellent winter hardiness. It is not afraid of droughts either.

• Chinese juniper is interesting for its decorative effect - even in nature, plants of the same species differ from each other in external characteristics. This allowed breeders to develop many interesting varieties.

• The recumbent juniper is grown as a ground cover plant - the creeping shrub reaches a height of half a meter.

• Siberian juniper prefers mountain landscapes. It grows slowly, but it pleases with its beauty, it is not afraid of frosts and droughts.

• Rocky juniper is very decorative - even in natural conditions the plant has a beautiful crown. The color of the needles is also interesting - it has a bluish tint. The plant grows slowly, but it has a long life span.

• Scaly juniper attracts attention with its beautiful needles - they are painted in gray-steel color.

Rocky junipers: varieties

Juniper of this species is represented by the following varieties: Blue Arrow, Globe, Repens, Pathfinder, Skyrocket, Silver King, Wichita.

Juniper Blue Haven

The Blue Haven Juniper is a slow growing plant. Its maximum height is 2.5 m. The plant has a dense conical crown. The needles are colored light blue. The variety does not have high soil requirements.

Common juniper: varieties

Common juniper is represented by the following varieties: В 2, Columnaris, Сompressa, Echiniformis, Gold beach, Gold Cone, Green Carpet, Нibernica, Нornibrookii, Меуеr, Оblonga pendula, Repanda.

Juniper Green Carpet

The Green Carpet variety is a low juniper (even at the age of ten, the plant reaches only 10 cm in height). This variety is ideal for lawns - the plants do not need any trimming or special care.

Chinese juniper varieties

This type of plant is represented by the following varieties: Blue Alps, Columnaris, Columnaris glauca, Echiniformis, Expansa, Globosa, Netzii, Mint Julep, Old Gold, Pfitzeriana.

Kurovovo Gold is a variety famous for its beauty. The plant forms a spherical crown. Its maximum height is 2 m. The needles differ in color - the young one has an emerald hue, and the old one is dark green.

Juniper horizontal: varieties

Creeping juniper (horizontal) is represented by the following varieties: Аdpressa, Аlpina, Аndorra compact, Аrgentea, Glacier, Glenmore, Petraea, Prostrata, Wiltonii.

Juniper Andorra Compact

Andorra Compact - this variety is interesting in the shape of the crown (it resembles a fluffy pillow). In winter, the needles change color and turn purple-violet.

Tall junipers: varieties

Tall junipers are represented by different species. Accordingly, you can pick up a lot of varieties with optimal visual characteristics. The most interesting varieties: Skyrocket, Glauka, Gray Oul (Virginian juniper), Hibernika, Columnaris (common juniper).

Fast growing junipers: varieties

Good growth rates are inherent in the following varieties: Blue carpet (scaly juniper), Tamariscifolia and Mas (Cossack juniper), Pfitzeriana Aurea, Mordigan Gold, Pfitzeriana compacta (medium juniper). Virginia juniper is also growing rapidly.

Juniper Mordigan Gold

Mordigan Gold is a graceful, compact, frost and drought tolerant variety. The needles have a golden hue. The plants reach a height of one meter, the crown diameter does not exceed two meters. This juniper tolerates urban conditions well.

Edible juniper: varieties

Juniper fruits are not eaten like ordinary berries, but they are used in the preparation of tinctures, marmalades, kvass, jelly, jelly, beer. The aroma of the juniper makes the smoked meats especially tasty. Cossack juniper is poisonous. Fruits of other types can be used. The fruits of the Caucasian juniper are most widely used.

Juniper Cossack: varieties

Cossack juniper is represented by the varieties Аrcaida, Blue danube, Вuffalo, Сupressifolia, Еrecta, Fastigiata, Mas, Rockery Gem, Tamariscifolia.

Juniper variegata

Variegata is a variety that has bright variegated needles (it is painted in a green-white or yellowish tint). This juniper grows slowly and forms a creeping crown. The highest height is 1 m. The plant is quite demanding on the composition of the soil. It does not tolerate frost and drought well.

Juniper: varieties for the Moscow region

Many types of juniper are grown in the Moscow region and central Russia.The most widespread are common junipers, horizontal, rocky, Cossack.

Juniper Skyrocket

Plants of the Skyrocket variety look very beautiful. They have a columnar shape. Scaly or needle-like needles are colored blue-gray. Plant height reaches 6-8 m. Unlike many other types of juniper, this variety grows very quickly - the annual growth is about 20 cm.

Juniper varieties for Siberia

Many junipers are characterized by good frost resistance, which allows them to be grown in harsh climatic conditions. The most widespread in Siberia and the Urals are Siberian junipers, Cossack, hard, Chinese, Virginia, ordinary, scaly.

Juniper Blue Alps

The Blue Alps variety (Chinese juniper) has excellent recommendations. The plant tolerates frost well, has a compact shape. Its average height is 2.5-4 m. The needle-shaped needles are colored silver from below, from above they are light green.

Juniper varieties are diverse. Plants are actively used for landscaping areas - they are very decorative, therefore they are in great demand.

 

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Evergreens have always attracted human attention with their durability and beauty. Juniper (Juniperus) occupies a special place among conifers, not only for its beauty, but also for its unique properties. The abundance of species and varieties of juniper allows you to choose a tree suitable for any purpose. And proper care, protection from diseases, pests, will allow you to enjoy its aroma and beauty for many years.

Variety of junipers

Weeping Juniper

Today there are about a hundred varieties of juniper, united by common specific features. Some of them arose as a result of natural mutations, some were created through the process of targeted selection.

In nature, there are about 70 species of juniper (juniperus), of which only 15 have been cultivated so far. The most common in landscape design are the following:

• common juniper;
• rocky;
• Virginia;
• Cossack;
• Chinese;
• average;
• scaly;
• horizontal.

Most species of juniper are frost-resistant, undemanding to living conditions, care, as well as a pleasant aroma of wood and needles, the severity of which, however, varies depending on the species. Trees with scaly needles smell stronger than those with needle needles.

The shape of the crown varies, although most species lend themselves to crown formation by pruning. Cone-shaped and pyramidal crown shapes are good in group plantings. Initially, four forms are distinguished:

• conical;
• pyramidal;
• weeping;
• creeping.

Also, juniper species are grouped according to several other principles, for example, winter hardiness, toxicity, unpretentiousness.

Representatives of the Cossack juniper are poisonous, virgin and rocky ones are distinguished by their unpretentiousness. Winter hardiness is characteristic of almost all species, with the exception of some less common, among which:

• inclined;
• Turkestan;
• Red;
• Zeravshan.

Due to the external beauty, some species can be attributed to a special group of decorative junipers, this applies to:

• ordinary;
• horizontal;
• medium;
• scaly junipers.

When choosing the type and variety of juniper for growing on your site, it is important to decide in advance on the purpose that it will fulfill. This will help you choose the right type of tree, based on its specific features.

Common juniper 

Representatives of the common juniper species are highly resistant to adverse weather conditions - cold, frost, lack of water or light.The varieties belonging to the species juniperus communis are extremely decorative, and their slow growth allows them to be used for growing bonsai trees.

The following are considered popular varieties belonging to this species:

Gold cone

Juniper Gold Cone

A tall tree (up to 4 m tall) with a dense conical crown. Annual growth is about 10 cm in height, 5 cm in girth. It grows most actively in summer. With the beginning of autumn, the bright golden needles turn yellow-green, and by winter the color turns to bronze. Not picky about the composition of the soil, but does not tolerate its compaction, excess moisture. It prefers to grow in sunny places, with a lack of light, the needles turn green. The first few years need additional care: watering, shelter from the direct sun, tying branches in winter.

Hibernika

Representatives of this variety of juniper can reach 3.5 m in height, 1 m in girth.

Juniper ordinary Нibernica

The shape of the crown is narrow-columnar, the annual growth rate is about 10 and 5 cm. The needles of the needles are rather soft, not prickly, the colors are green with a bluish tint. Hardy, prefers sunny places. It is not picky about the composition of the soil. In the spring, this juniper is recommended to be sheltered from the bright sun, and in the winter - to tie the branches to protect it from snow.

Green carpet

Unlike its counterparts, the common juniper of this variety is rather low - only 0.5 m in height, but it can reach one and a half meters in width. The annual growth is about 5/15 cm, respectively.

common juniper Green Carpet

The eye is pleased with the unusual shape of the crown - thick, ground cover. This variety is well suited for decorating slopes, growing in rocky gardens.

Suecica

Another variety with a columnar crown shape. In height and width it can reach 4/1 m. The approximate annual growth is 15 and 5 cm for each indicator. It is a fairly dense shrub with erect shoots. The needles on the branches are painted in a beautiful bluish-green hue.

common juniper Suecica

The variety is frost-hardy, characterized by slow growth, unpretentiousness to growing conditions. Like other varieties, it prefers sunny places, with a lack of light, the crown loses its shape, becomes spreading. This shrub lends itself well to shaping and pruning, which allows it to be used for decorative purposes to create various landscape compositions.

Rocky

originally from mountainous regions. Very hardy, easily copes with drought, frost-hardy. Looks great in rocky gardens and alpine hills. The most decorative varieties of rocky juniper:

Rocky juniper Skayroket

Very tall trees, up to 7-8 meters in height. The shape of the crown is columnar, the width of an adult plant is 1 m. The annual growth rate is 15 and 5 cm, respectively. The shoots grow densely, the needles are soft and have a pleasant green color. In general, it is not picky about conditions, care, but grows poorly on too saline or waterlogged soils. Branches for the winter must be tied up to avoid damage.

Blue arrow

A tall juniper, up to 5 m in height, has a narrow columnar crown (up to 0.7 m in girth).

Juniper Blue Arrow

The annual growth is 10 and 5 cm. The crown is made up of dense-growing, upright, rigid branches, decorated with scales of soft needles of a deep blue color. Prefers sunny places, loose soil, unpretentious to conditions, resistant to cold.

Virgin

Virginian juniper varieties are considered one of the least capricious and demanding in terms of care or keeping conditions. These trees grow safely on any soil, in any weather conditions. For its crown shape and wood quality, Virginia juniper is often called "pencil tree".

The varieties are especially decorative:

Gray owl

Gray owl

Sprawling low (up to 1.5 m in height) shrub.Dense wide crown of gray, silvery-green needles. The variety lends itself well to pruning, so the shape of the crown can be changed as needed. The width of an adult plant is approximately 2 m. The annual growth in height and width is about 10 and 15 cm, respectively. It categorically does not accept excess water in the soil, photophilous.

Burkii

Burkii

Tall tree with soft greenish needles. The shape of the crown is pyramidal, it can reach a height of 3 m.

Glauca

One of the most famous varieties of Virginia juniper.

Glauca

Attracts attention with silvery-green needles, covering numerous shoots, forming a conical crown.

Canaertii

A fast growing juniper with a columnar crown and soft dark green needles.

Canaertii

With the onset of autumn, the tree is decorated with small but numerous blue fruits.

Cossack

Along with numerous advantages, including undemanding growing conditions, resistance to adverse weather events, Cossack juniper has a serious disadvantage. Its shoots are extremely poisonous, as they contain sabinol - a toxic substance that can increase bleeding and has an abortive effect. Look good in group plantings, rocky gardens.

This species includes the following varieties:

Variegata

M. Cossack Variegata

A very beautiful shrub surprises with a combination of green and creamy shades of scaly needles on the branches. This variety of Cossack juniper does not tolerate excessive soil moisture, grows slowly, hardy, light-requiring.

Blue danube

Representatives of this variety are dense shrubs with creeping branches.

M. Cossack Blu Danube

The color of the scaly needles is green, by autumn it is replaced by a silvery-bluish tint.

Glauca

M. Cossack Glauca

A low, up to 1 meter in height, plant, surprising with an unexpected bronze shade, which its gray-blue needles acquire in winter. The width of an adult plant is up to 2 m, and the annual growth is 3 and 5 cm. Photophilous, prefers sunny places, and is not picky about other conditions.

Arcadia

Arcadia

An unusual variety of Cossack juniper, growing like a carpet on the surface of the earth. The height and width of an adult plant reach 0.5 and 2.5 m, respectively, the growth is about 3/5 cm per year. The creeping shape of the crown makes it look like a fluffy green pillow of soft needles.

Chinese juniper

Most often, Chinese juniper is used to create bonsai trees, as they have a slow growth rate. Habitat - Japan, China, Korea.

The varieties of this type include:

Arcadia

A dwarf frost-resistant variety of Chinese juniper. It can reach a height of 2 m, the width of an adult plant is about 80 cm. The shape of the crown is conical. The needles are colored green with a blue tint. In landscape design, it is used as a bright accent for compositions, for single plantings or for the formation of a hedge.

Blaauw

A low (up to 1.5 m in height) shrub with an asymmetric crown shape and brightly colored needles with a light blue tint.

Juniper Chinese Blaauw

This variety of Chinese juniper has a slow growth rate.

Kuriwao gold

An ornamental variety of Chinese juniper, attracts attention with an asymmetric crown shape, a combination of dark and light areas of needles.

Juniper Chinese Kuriwao Gold

Prefers sunny places, as in the shade the needles lose their brightness. In landscape design, it is used in different ways, as it looks great in single, group plantings or rocky gardens.

Juniper medium

This species is a hybrid of common and Cossack junipers. He received the name Pfitzeriana. Inherited from them extreme resistance to adverse climatic conditions and improper care. Juniper medium Pfitzeriana has a wide varietal variety. Its most popular varieties:

Old gold

M. Medium Old Gold

A very beautiful decorative Dutch variety that attracts attention with its soft golden needles. It is a fairly compact shrub, reaching 2 m in width and only 1.5 m in height. In landscape design, it is used for decorating wells, creating hedges.

Gold star

This variety of Pfitzeriana juniper is rightfully called the garden's golden star.

Juniper Medium Gold Star

Its bright golden yellow needles immediately grab attention. This is a low, spreading shrub, reaching 1 and 2 m in height and width. It prefers to grow in a sunny place, since growth slows down in the shade. It tolerates frost well, can grow on any soil.

Mint Julep

Mint Julep

Attractive low shrub with graceful arched branches forming a spreading crown. Scaly needles of bright green color effectively set off the gray berries, which gives this juniper variety a special decorative effect. Photophilous, used in group plantings to create alpine slides.

This species also includes the varieties Pfitzeriana Aureya, Pfitzeriana Glauka, etc.

Scaly junipers

The homeland of this species of junipers is the Himalayas and China. He, like other species, is extremely unpretentious to growing conditions, grows well on any type of soil, easily tolerates drought and severe frosts. The most decorative varieties of this type are the following:

Blue Carpet and Blue Swede

Quite similar varieties, united by a beautiful silver-blue shade of needles. These are sprawling, low shrubs that grow rapidly and are used to strengthen the slopes.

They prefer sunny places, they are easy to form a crown, frost-resistant.

Holger

Holger

The variety is very decorative due to the spectacular combination of green old needles and bright golden young needles. Spreading bush, wide.

Horizontal

Juniper horizontal refers to ground cover plants, most often used to decorate slopes and retaining walls. His homeland is North America. The following varieties belong to the type of horizontal juniper:

Blue star

Blue star

A low-growing shrub, characterized by a blue color of needles with a slight steel sheen. It prefers acidic soils, tolerates well the effects of emissions and air pollution, and is frost-resistant.

Golden flame

Shrubs of this variety of horizontal juniper change their color with age. Adult needles are bright green, the needles on young shoots have a golden tint.

M. horizontal Golden Flame

He needs additional care - in the spring, dead needles are removed from the shoots of the bush, since he himself does not dump it.

Juniper planting rules

Despite the fact that the juniper is quite unpretentious, when planting it, you must follow some rules in order to get good results. As a rule, junipers are planted closer to mid-spring or September. If a seedling with a closed root ball was purchased, it is planted in a permanent place throughout the warm season.

When choosing a suitable landing site, several conditions should be considered:

• the juniper prefers to grow in well-lit places, it does not tolerate shading well;
• this plant should not be planted on waterlogged soils, near groundwater;
• some species need protection from wind and drafts;
• it is important to provide the plant with space, it does not tolerate tightness.

The first step in planting a seedling is to prepare the planting hole. Its size should be significantly larger than the root ball of the plant. It is also important to observe the optimal distance between seedlings (from 0.5 m for dwarf species to 2-3 meters for tall ones). At the same time, in group plantings or hedges, the distance may be less than the recommended one.

It is better to plant large species of junipers in light fertile soils, but dwarf varieties are more suitable for soil that does not contain many nutrients, otherwise they will lose their decorative effect.

At the bottom of the hole, a drainage layer must be laid out using expanded clay or broken brick. Then add the substrate and place the seedling. It is important to take care not to deepen the root collar. This will slow down growth and can cause plant disease. Ideally, the seedling is replanted with an earthen clod to minimize possible root damage.

After disembarking, the pit is covered with earth and watered abundantly with settled warm water. Then the periostemal circle is mulched using any suitable materials.

Care, fertilization, wintering

Preparing for winter

As already mentioned many times, junipers are not at all demanding to care for and grow well without outside interference. They need watering only during prolonged drought and in the first year after planting. Also, all types of juniper do not need fertilization, and for some it is even contraindicated.

Almost all types of juniper are frost-resistant, so they do not need a special shelter from the cold for the wintering period, except for the very first winter after planting, when the seedling is not yet strong enough. For young plants, spruce branches or any non-woven material are used as a shelter. In late winter and early spring, the juniper should be protected from bright sunlight, otherwise the needles on the shoots turn brown.

Trees with a conical and columnar crown shape need to be tied up with branches, as they can break under the weight of snow.

Diseases and pests

Like most other plants, juniper is susceptible to disease and pest attacks. The most common disease of this plant is rust.

Rust (Mildew)

Its symptoms are orange growths on the branches and main trunk. As a rule, they appear at the very beginning of summer. This disease also affects fruit and ornamental plants, from which it can spread to junipers, so it is better not to plant them nearby.

To eliminate the disease, it is necessary to remove the affected parts of the plant, and then treat them with a fungicide. As a prophylaxis, it is recommended to use various immunostimulants.

If the juniper grows in conditions of high humidity and has been exposed to low temperatures, it becomes possible to develop another fungal disease - shute. Its symptoms are yellowing and browning of the needles, the appearance of black growths on needles at the end of summer. Most often, this disease affects plants growing in the shade. Control measures are similar to the previous ones.

Juniper can be attacked by several insects:

• Spider mite. It manifests itself in the cobweb entangling the shoots of the plant, and small yellow dots on the needles.
• Aphid. If these insects are found on the plant, you need to process not only the juniper itself, but also the colony of ants that breed it.
• Shields. Their presence is noticeable to the naked eye - they are round or oval shields up to 2 mm in length. Symptoms of their appearance are drying and falling of needles, dying off of the tree bark.

For prophylaxis, juniper is recommended to be sprayed with immunostimulants and a weak solution of insecticides.

Juniper (Juniperus) is one of the most attractive conifers, not only due to its unpretentiousness and beauty, but also to the wonderful aroma of wood and needles. Subject to the simple rules of landing and caring for it, you can decorate the site for many years.

Video

 

Any corner of the garden or summer cottage can be decorated with unpretentious and beautiful junipers. In modern landscape design, they have become popular and loved due to their various shapes, colors, plasticity and unpretentiousness. Any design idea can be easily realized with the help of these conifers, which cut beautifully.On your site, you can plant a lush bush or spreading tree, creeping ivy or a columnar monolith. More than 70 species include the genus of junipers. In this article, we will tell you about the most popular and low-maintenance species and varieties.

Frost-resistant types of junipers

These types of junipers are most often have large areas... These can be large shrubs growing in light coniferous forests, or small trees found in the undergrowth of deciduous forests.

Common juniper: photos and varieties

A tree or shrub up to 12 meters in height can have a variety of shapes. Differs in reddish-brown shoots and flaky bark. Shiny, prickly and narrow lanceolate needles are 14-16 mm long. Blue-black cones with a bluish bloom in diameter reach 5-9 mm. Ripen in the second or third year.

Resistant to frost and urban air pollution common juniper can grow on poor sandy loam... The shrub has about a hundred varieties, which differ in their height, color of needles, shape and diameter of the crown. The following varieties are most popular:

1. Suecica cultivar - a dense columnar-shaped shrub, the height of which reaches 4 m. Bluish-green or light green needle-like needles grow on vertical shoots. Grows well in lighted areas. The crown of a shrub planted in the shade can become spreading and loose. This variety of common juniper is frost-hardy, unpretentious and tolerates pruning well. Can be used to create garden compositions.
2. Green Carpet Variety - common juniper, which grows only up to 0.5 m. In width it grows up to 1.5 m, therefore it is widely used as a ground cover plant, for planting on slopes and rocky gardens. Creeping shoots are covered with soft light green needles.
3. Hibernika cultivar - a narrow columnar tree up to 3.5 m high. The needles are light green and thornless. This variety of common juniper grows on any soil. It is recommended to tie it for the winter. Otherwise, the branches may break under the weight of the snow. In the spring, shelter from the spring sun is required.
4. Gold Cone variety - It is a dense, narrow conical common juniper, growing up to 4 m. The width of the crown of an adult plant reaches 1 meter. During the period of active growth, the shoots can change color several times. In spring they are bright yellow, in autumn they are yellow-green, and in winter they turn bronze. The shrub is frost-hardy, undemanding to soil fertility, but does not tolerate waterlogging. It is recommended to grow in well-lit places, since the needles can turn green in the shade.

Rocky juniper

A pyramidal tree native to North America in height can reach up to 10 m... Due to their resistance to adverse factors, rocky junipers are in great demand in areas with hot climates. With their help, they create high hedges and various coniferous compositions. The most unpretentious and two varieties are known:

1. Skyrocket is a columnar plant with a dense crown. It reaches a height of 6-8 m. The width of the crown of an adult tree is about 1 m. It grows well on light loamy soils without stagnant water. The variety is frost-resistant, wind-resistant, drought-resistant. Prefers well-lit areas. It is recommended to tie the branches of the bush for the winter.
2. Blue Arrow is a columnar tree 5 m high and 0.7 m wide. Rigid shoots, strewn with thornless, scaly needles of a deep blue color, are tightly pressed against the trunk. The plant is hardy and unpretentious. Loves drained soils and well-lit areas.

Red cedar

This coniferous plant can rightfully be considered the most unpretentious and resistant among all types of junipers. In nature he grows along river banks and on the windswept slopes of the mountains. Virginia juniper wood is resistant to decay.In this regard, it is used to make pencils, and the plant itself is called the "pencil tree". It is drought tolerant, frost tolerant and tolerates partial shade.

Varieties of this type of juniper are easily propagated by grafting, cuttings and seeds. A large number of cone berries ripen on the tree every year, from which seeds can be obtained. After stratification, the seeds are sown in the ground and are an excellent planting material for hedges. Most often used for decoration of gardens and parks seven varieties of juniper virginiana:

1. Gray Owl is a shrub with silver-gray needles and gracefully drooping branches. It grows up to one and a half meters. The width of its crown reaches two meters. Additional decorativeness to the shrub is given by a large number of cones. It tolerates pruning, loves sunny areas, hardy.
2. The Hetz variety is a plant with bluish needles, growing up to 2 meters. It can be 2-3 meters wide. Only suitable for large gardens as it grows rapidly in width and height. Resistant to almost all weather conditions.
3. The Pendula cultivar is a spreading tree up to 15 m high. Its weeping branches are covered with green needles with a bluish tint.
4. The Burkii variety is a fast-growing, pyramidal shrub, the height of which reaches 5-6 m. At the age of ten years, with a crown diameter of 1.5 m, it has a height of 3 m. It grows with thornless needles of a green-blue hue.
5. The Ganaertii variety is an oval-columnar dense tree growing up to 5-7 m. The branches are covered with dark green needles. In autumn, a countless number of bluish-blue cones form on junipers.
6. The Glauca cultivar is a columnar tree up to 5 m high. It branches densely and is distinguished by the silvery color of the needles.
7. The Blue Cloud cultivar is a dwarf form of the Virginia juniper. It has a height of 0.4-0.5 m, a crown width of up to 1.5 m. Long branches are covered with small gray needles with a blue tint.

Medium junipers: varieties

Shrubs with a wide variety of colors and habits, characterized by good resistance to unfavorable growing conditions. The most popular varieties:

1. The Pfitzeriana Aurea cultivar is a spreading shrub up to 1 m high. The horizontally standing dense branches form a crown 2 m wide. Golden-lemon young shoots are covered with yellowish-green needles. In summer, the color of the plant changes to yellow-green. Prefers sunny places, as it becomes just green in the shade. It grows slowly.
2. Cold Star has soft, bright golden scaly or needle-like needles. It will grow up to 1 m in height and up to 2 m in width. It is frost-resistant, undemanding to the soil. It grows poorly in the shade.
3. The Hetzii variety is a plant up to 1.5 m high. Its broad crown grows up to 2 m. The shrub is covered with blue-gray needles throughout the year.
4. The Old Gold variety is a compact shrub up to one and a half meters high. In a year it will grow by only five centimeters. In summer, juniper needles are golden yellow, and in winter they turn brownish yellow. It develops poorly in the shade.
5. Mint Julep has arched branches and bright green scales. The shrub grows fairly quickly in all moderately nutrient-rich soils. By autumn, rounded gray berries are formed on it, which look spectacular against the background of bright needles.
6. The Gold Coast variety is a low shrub with horizontal shoots. In height it reaches one meter, in width it grows up to two meters. It grows slowly. Prefers lighted areas and almost any soil. The golden yellow needles of the juniper become dark in winter.

Chinese junipers: photos and varieties

Slow growing pyramidal treesgrowing in China, Japan, Korea and the Primorsky Territory. Their height can reach up to 20 m, so bonsai are often formed from them. They love moist, fertile enough soils. Drought tolerant.

Some varieties of Chinese juniper are spreading bushes and are suitable for decorating small areas:

1. Variegata has a blue-green pyramidal crown with yellowish-white spots. It grows up to 2 meters in height and up to one meter in width. Prefers moist but well-drained soil. The shrub must be protected from the early spring sun.
2. Kuriwao Gold is a spreading shrub that is about two meters wide and long. The shape of its crown is round. Young needles are bright green, with age it becomes dark green. In the shade, it loses its color saturation, so it is recommended to plant it in well-lit areas. Suitable for stony gardens. Looks good in mixed and coniferous groups.
3. Blue Alps is a densely crowned shrub with shoots hanging down at the edges. It grows in width and height up to two meters. It can grow on any soil, but in well-lit areas.
4. Blaauw is a shrub with asymmetrical ascending shoots. It grows in height and width up to one and a half meters. For him, nutrient soils with a slightly alkaline or neutral reaction are ideal. Can grow in light partial shade.

Junipers Cossack

Most often it is winter-hardy, creeping shrubsthat grow naturally in many regions of Asia and in the forests of Europe. They are often used to strengthen slopes, since they are not very soil-demanding, light-requiring and drought-resistant. Their varieties differ in color of needles, habit and size:

1. Tamariscifolia is a very original shrub with often spreading branches. In height, it grows up to 0.5 m, and in width it grows up to two meters. The needle-shaped short needles can be of different colors - from light green to bluish-green. A plant planted in a sunny area gives a rich color to the needles. In the shade, the needles will become paler. Juniper is undemanding to soil and moisture.
2. Glauca is a shrub that is about one meter high and two meters wide. Differs in a cushion-shaped crown and gray-blue needles with a bronze tint. Brown-black juniper cones have a bluish bloom, and look very beautiful against the background of dense needles.
3. The Arcadia cultivar is a low plant with light green, soft needles. In height it reaches only 0.5 m, but in width it grows up to 2.5 m. With age, growing, it covers large areas. Therefore, a young plant looks like a pillow, from which, after a few years, an exquisite carpet is obtained.

Juniper horizontal

North American plant species that can be used to decorate retaining walls and as a ground cover plant... The most popular varieties:

1. The Limeglow variety is a plant that grows in height up to only 0.4 m in width and grows up to one and a half meters. Its branches are strewn with beautiful, bright golden yellow needles, which allows the shrub to be used as an accent for any garden arrangement. Grows poorly on heavy soils and prefers well-lit areas.
2. Blue Forest variety is a dwarf shrub 0.3 m high and 1.5 m wide. Young shoots grow vertically upward on its creeping crown, giving the impression of a blue miniature forest. The color of the juniper is especially bright and original in the middle of summer.
3. Blue Chip is one of the most beautiful creeping junipers. A bush with horizontal shoots spreading in different directions with slightly raised ends looks like a silvery-blue thick carpet. In winter, the needles change color and become lilac.
4. The Andorra Variegata variety is a dwarf shrub with a height of 0.4 m. The cushion-shaped crown grows up to one and a half meters. Juniper is distinguished by bright green needles with cream interspersed in the summer, and needles of a purple-violet hue in winter.

Juniper scaly

A drought-resistant and undemanding plant for soil fertility, grows naturally in China and on the slopes of the Eastern Himalayas... In landscape design, wide-spreading varieties with silvery needles are used:

1. Meyeri is a moderately vigorous shrub one meter high. Oblique shoots are distinguished by drooping ends and silvery-blue, short, needle-like dense needles. To obtain a beautiful, delicate, dense shape, a regular haircut is required.
2. Blue Star is a slow-growing dwarf shrub. Growing in height up to one meter, in width it grows up to one and a half meters. Recommended for planting on slopes, rocky hills, curbs.
3. Blue Carpet is a fast-growing shrub with silver-blue thorny needles. Dark blue cones are covered with a whitish waxy coating. Juniper is widely used to strengthen slopes and slopes.

Nothing cleans and freshens the air in your garden like the junipers planted in it. They will give their shape and color to the garden comfort, beauty and originality... You can plant a huge tree, a tiny shrub, or make a composition out of them. Any of the varieties and types of juniper will easily fit into the landscape design of a small summer cottage or a large garden.