gardencanadensis.ca » Juniperus

Juniperus

(Revised 9 Feb 2011)
The common name is Juniper. Junipers are very commonly used in landscape here probably because many varieties attain landscape size quickly, and practically ‘death proof’ in our area. Personally, I find that most of the varieties available at the garden centres are of little or no ornamental values (to me). I have some these around here and there, and they will not be shown here. Of course, other gardeners may not like what I deem ‘ornamental’ as well.

Juniperus chinensis ‘Shimpaku’

I have a few of this somewhere in the garden; sadly neglected and in poor shape. It is a popular subject in Japanese bonsai. It has refreshing dark green foliage in contrast with the dull gray green foliage of most other junipers. Hopefully, I can baby a few back to shape in the next few years.

Juniperus chinensis ‘Variegated Kaizuka’

I lost the name tag of this conifer, but for the sake of having an identity, I temporarily identify it as Juniperus chinensis ‘Variegated Kaizuka’. (I normally register the name of each woody plant I bought in a database plus creating an aluminium name tag, and this happens to be the closest name exists in my database). It is in too much shade and suffers winter burn on its white variegation regularly. I should try to propagate it before I lose it.

Juniperus chinensis 'Variegated Kaizuka'

Juniperus communis ‘Gold Cone’

This seems to be a perfect conifer for landscape; small, compact, upright, hardy and beautiful spring foliage. One of our plants was badly eaten by rabbit a few years ago; only the bottom fifth and a bit of the tip left. It seems to have come back slowly.

Juniperus communis 'Gold Cone' with its spring growth starting

Juniperus communis 'Gold Cone' showing its spring growth - notice the rabbit damage in the middle?

Juniperus communis 'Gold Cone' in summer

Juniperus communis ‘Compressa’

This famous miniature is often used for rock garden. My plant is still very young.

Juniperus communis 'Compressa'

Juniperus communis ‘Silver Streamers’

I have no idea how it will look eventually; though I have my expectation. It suffered some winter damage last year; not a good sigh.

Juniperus communis 'Silver Streamers'

Juniperus horizontalis ‘Motherlode’

I acquired this plant because of its orange yellow colour foliage I saw. This poor plant has been kicked around in the last few year; hopefully it can settle now.

Juniperus horizontalis 'Motherlode'

Juniperus horizontalis 'Motherlode'

Juniperus procumbens ‘Nana’

I propagated and used this conifer as filler groundcover in perennial beds all over the place. It is good looking, well behaved, and adds greenery to situations where perennial leaves are not at their best without any competing tendency of any kind. Unfortunately, I have never pay any attention to take pictures of them.