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How long do junipers take to grow?
The growth rate of Junipers varies, but these plants tend to grow at a slow or moderate rate. Most shrub and groundcover junipers grow 4 to 8 inches per year. For creeping or spreading junipers this means growth by width and for other bushes it means height. The Blue Rug can grow up to 12 inches per year.
Is juniper a tree or a bush?
Common juniper (Juniperus communis), a sprawling shrub, is widely distributed on rocky soils throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Many ornamental cultivars have been developed.
How do juniper trees spread?
Juniper 'berries' are actually cones, like those of pine and hemlock, but the cone scales are not woody but are thick, fleshy and aromatic and attract frugivores who disperse the seeds.
What is the life cycle of a juniper tree?
Junipers grow very slowly. A juniper standing only five feet tall may be 50 years old. Junipers typically live from 350 to 700 years, with some even passing the millennium mark. Despite their longevity, junipers rarely exceed 30 feet in height or three feet in diameter.
What is special about juniper trees?
Junipers have the capacity to self-prune, shedding branches for survival, and its sap is rot resistant. Juniper berries and sap have been used medicinally in Chinese and Native American cultures and the berries supply food and shelter for native animals.
Is juniper poisonous to dogs?
ANSWER: The University of California - Davis list Juniperus (Junipers) in their Safe and Poisonous Garden Plants list as having a minor toxicity (class 2) for pets and children. This rating means ingestion of these plants may cause minor illnesses such as vomiting or diarrhea.
Are junipers good trees?
California junipers are also good plants for erosion control and water conservation, and the plants are both heat- and drought-tolerant. California junipers also attract wildlife, including butterflies.
Where should I plant my juniper tree?
Junipers grow especially well in well drained, sunny locations. Although some selections can be grown in full shade, most junipers will become more open and leggier if they don't get enough sun. The only spot where a juniper won't be happy is in poorly drained, boggy conditions.
What did Native Americans use juniper for?
Native people in North America used juniper extensively, and many still do today. For instance, Apache tribes used various species to relieve seizures, for colds and coughs, and to aid in childbirth. Cree people used it to lower a fever, to ease lung infections and toothaches, and to relieve kidney troubles.
How far do juniper roots spread?
Shallow Roots That Spread As the branches spread, new roots appear on the branches about 6 inches from the branch tips, helping anchor the plant to the ground. Older plants can develop large, horizontally spreading roots up to 1 inch in diameter that may extend 10 feet or more from the plant's center.
When should you trim juniper bushes?
Junipers and arborvitae generally need little to no pruning. They may be pruned anytime except during sub-zero weather. The best time is early spring prior to new growth. The best pruning method is to cut individual branches back to an upward growing side branch.
Are junipers deep rooted?
Juniper tap roots typically fall 25 feet deep when fully grown or about the same depth as the tree's height. Lateral roots in Juniper can grow as deep as 100 feet. Juniper species such as Creeping Juniper will grow their roots the deepest.
What is a juniper tree look like?
Juniper has evergreen, prickly, small, blue-green needles with a central white stripe, stiff, arranged in clusters of three. It slightly resembles gorse in its appearance, especially by its bushiness but unlike gorse, it does not regenerate readily after fires.
What is a juniper tree in the Bible?
Actually the Scriptural “juniper” was a species of broom known as the white broom, Retama raetam. Its habit of growth is similar to that of the Scotch broom, Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link, but its branches are longer and more flexible, forming an erect dense bush 3 to 12 feet tall.
What is another name for juniper tree?
Other common names include checkerbark juniper, oak-barked juniper, thick-barked juniper, western juniper, and mountain cedar. This is a good plant for dry, rocky conditions.
Are junipers good trees?
California junipers are also good plants for erosion control and water conservation, and the plants are both heat- and drought-tolerant. California junipers also attract wildlife, including butterflies.
How tall is a juniper tree?
With shapes ranging from ground-hugging juniper bushes just 6 inches high to towering juniper trees 130 feet tall, and colors from steely blue to shimmering gold, ...
What are the problems with juniper trees?
Although virtually carefree when planted in the right conditions, they can be susceptible to a number of pests and diseases if not kept healthy. Insect problems include spider mites, juniper twig girdler, scale, juniper needle miner, bagworm, sawfly, and bark beetle. Diseases, which are primarily associated with overly wet soil, too much shade, or lack of air circulation, include twig and tip blight, phytophthora root rot, and cedar rust. Don’t plant near apple trees, as juniper are susceptible to cedar-apple rust, a fungus that can damage or destroy apple trees, as well as crabapple, hawthorn, and quince.
What is a juniper cone used for?
Pollination time varies, with some varieties producing pollen several times a year. Female cones are aromatic and used as a spice and for medicinal purposes, but are most often used to flavor gin. Juniper berries are also a food source for songbirds and other wildlife.
Why do deer leave plants alone?
Deer will leave them alone for the most part, due to the sharp needles and bitter taste, though extreme conditions can result in deer grazing on plants they wouldn’t otherwise .
What is a blue star juniper?
A durable fast-growing tree that is especially valuable when planted in a row as a windbreak, privacy screen, or hedge. Also grow as a spiraled topiary, popular in Mediterranean-inspired landscapes. Photo by: Spring Meadow Nursery. ‘Blue Star,’ Singleseed Juniper.
Where do coniferous evergreens grow?
A member of the cypress family, there are some 50 to 60 species of these coniferous evergreens, which occur natively throughout the North ern Hemisphere, from the Arctic region to tropical Africa.
Do junipers like acidic soil?
Tolerant of most soil types, junipers prefer slightly acidic, organically rich soil with good drainage, as roots can rot in standing water.
Best Juniper Varieties
Can you believe that there are nearly 60 species of juniper shrubs ( Juniperus spp.)? Well, there are! But, to keep it simple here are the most common 16 species in North America. Many of these grow wild, while others are primarily cultivated in gardens.
Planting Juniper
Plant your shrub in either spring or autumn. While junipers thrive in extreme heat and cold, it’s best to plant them during the milder weather to give them a chance to become established before the harsh weather arrives.
Caring for Juniper
Every plant needs water, right? Juniper is no exception, but this plant only needs little supplemental or no watering if you live in a climate that experiences regular downfall. In fact, overwatering is one of the main reasons that juniper shrubs develop diseases. Think about the environment you see junipers growing in naturally.
Juniper Diseases and Pests
Some of the most common problems that may trouble you while growing junipers are spider mites, bagworms, and bark beetles. Plants that are stressed are more susceptible to problems. Most issues are mostly caused by overly watered soil, too much shade, and insufficient air circulation.
Using Juniper Berries
Juniper berries have a distinct spicy, pine-like, resinous, flavor. You might be familiar with the flavor from gin, which is made using young juniper berries. The berries aren’t actually berries, but modified cones, and they come in various colors but most are deep blue.
Use Caution
You should never use immature berries in food or medicine, and don’t use the berries from J. sabina and J. oxycedrus. These species are poisonous. You should also use caution if you are pregnant or nursing. Talk to your doctor before using any new medication.
Why are juniper shrubs important?
Juniper shrubs ( Juniperus) provide the landscape with well defined structure and a fresh fragrance that few other shrubs can match. The care of juniper shrubbery is easy because they never need pruning to maintain their attractive shape and tolerate adverse conditions without complaint. Anyone interested in providing habitat for wildlife should consider growing junipers. The National Wildlife Federation counts juniper shrubs as one of the top 10 plants for wildlife because they provide an abundance of food, shelter from harsh weather, and nesting sites for birds.
How many varieties of juniper are there?
Juniper Info. There are more than 170 cultivated varieties of juniper, including low-growing ground cover or edging plants, shrubs, and trees. The shapes include narrow columns, tight pyramids, and rounded forms that spread as wide as their height or more. The fragrant foliage can be either needles or overlapping scales.
Why do shrubs have both types of foliage?
Some shrubs have both types of foliage because the leaves start out as needles and transition to scales as they mature.
How long do you water a young shrub?
Water young shrubs during dry spells for the first two years. Afterward, the shrub is drought tolerant and can make do with what nature provides.
Do junipers grow in the ground?
Junipers grow in any type of soil as long as it is well-drained. Many types make excellent street shrubs because they tolerate the spray from road salt and other urban pollution.
Do juniper shrubs have male or female flowers?
Juniper shrubs are either male or female. The male flowers provide the pollen for the female flowers, and once pollinated, the females produce berries or cones. One male shrub can provide pollen for several females.
What family is Juniper?
The junipers include roughly 60 different species of trees and shrubs in the Juniperus genus, within the cypress ( Cupressaceae) family of plants. Although come junipers use the work cedar in their common names, these plants are not members of the Cedrus genus. The leaves of these evergreen conifers usually take the form ...
What is a California Juniper?
California juniper is usually found as a large shrub in the Southwest, though it can sometimes grow to be a medium-sized tree in the wild. It features scale-like blue-gray leaves and reddish-brown cones. In landscaping, it is used to create wildlife habitats and in drought-tolerant gardening. It is very tolerant of alkaline soils and is often used to provide erosion control on dry slopes. It is also often used in bonsai.
What is the name of the plant that makes gin?
It is generally the female plants that produce colorful berries, which are actually modified cones. The berry/cones of the common juniper ( Juniperus communis) provide the flavoring for gin.
Why is a juniper drooping?
Drooping juniper gets its name because of the way that the branchlets droop down. As juveniles, these upright trees have needle-like leaves that become flattened scales in the mature plants. This tree has a reddish-brown or gray bark that sheds in strips and the cones are greenish berries that mature into purplish-brown.
Why is a juniper tree called a drooping juniper?
Drooping juniper gets its name because of the way that the branchlets droop down. As juveniles, these upright trees have needle-like leaves that become flattened scales in the mature plants. This tree has a reddish-brown or gray bark that sheds in strips and the cones are greenish berries that mature into purplish-brown.
What is a Chinese Juniper?
One variety of the Chinese juniper ('Toruloso') is known as the Hollywood juniper. As it matures it creates an intriguing twisted form that works well as a specimen plant. There are many other varieties composed of different shapes and colors. The leaves on Chinese juniper are needle-like when the plants are young, but assume the shape of scales as the plant matures. This is one of the junipers with good tolerance for urban conditions, but it does not like wet soils.
Where is the cherrystone juniper tree found?
(Other common names include single-seed juniper and cherrystone juniper.) This tree is now quite rare over much of its native territory in Mexico, but it is very common in New Mexico and other portions of the U.S. Southwest.
What is a juniper?
Junipers (Juniperus spp.) are a large group of plants notable for their evergreen, needle-like foliage, hardy nature and moderate to fast growth rate.
How tall does a Juniperus chinensis tree grow?
Juniperus chinensis "Hetzii Columnaris" is a mid-sized tree with a narrow, columnar shape. This fast-growing tree grows to a maximum height of about 15 feet and thrives in USDA zones 4 through 9.
How tall does a blue vase juniper tree get?
Small Juniper Trees. Juniperus chinensis "Blue Vase" has a moderate growth rate and will reach maximum heights of about 10 feet if properly cared for, with widths of half the height. On average, however, it grows to about 5 feet tall. "Blue Vase" grows best in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9.
How tall does a Hollywood Juniper get?
This fast-growing juniper twists and turns to reach maximum heights of about 15 feet tall and grows best in USDA zones 2 through 10.
How tall does a tree grow?
In general, a slow growth rate is equal to a foot of growth or less per year, whereas a tree with a medium or moderate growth rate adds about 13 to 24 inches of height each year. Fast-growing trees can grow up to 25 inches ...
Can juniper trees be planted in wet soil?
They can adapt to all soils, except those that are heavy and wet, so do not plant a juniper tree next to a source of water, such as a stream or lawn sprinkler. In general, these trees prefer soil that is on the dry side, so err on the caution of under-watering your junipers.
Do juniper trees need water?
They can adapt to all soils, except those that are heavy and wet, so do not plant a juniper tree next to a source of water, such as a stream or lawn sprinkler. In general, these trees prefer soil that is on the dry side, so err on the caution of under-watering your junipers.
Where is Skyrocket Juniper found?
According to Skyrocket juniper info, the plant’s parent is found wild in the Rocky Mountains of North America in dry, rocky soils.
What is the narrowest juniper?
The juniper “Skyrocket” is probably the narrowest juniper variety available. The foliage is bluish green, scale-like, and aromatic when crushed. Like most junipers, it develops tiny rounded, bluish gray cones that resemble berries. These can take up to two years to fully mature. Even the bark is attractive. It is reddish brown and has an interesting shredding appearance.
How tall is a skyrocket juniper?
If you enjoy evergreen trees, Skyrocket juniper plants may be the right fit for your garden. These cultivars are narrow columnar trees that may approach 15 to 20 feet (5-6 m.) in height with a 3 to 12 foot (1-4 m.) spread. The natural growth pattern is part of the plant’s charm and its ease of care adds to the allure.
What diseases can skyrocket juniper be affected by?
Use gloves, as some people are very sensitive to the plant’s sap and oil. The major disease to watch for when growing Skyrocket juniper is canker, although juniper blight may also occur. Skyrocket may also serve as a host for cedar-apple rust. Few pests attack junipers, probably due to the highly scented oils.
How long does it take for a sage plant to grow?
The natural growth pattern is part of the plant’s charm and its ease of care adds to the allure. This slow-growing plant takes up to 50 years to reach maturity, which means it can be used in a large container for many years before it must go in ground.
Can juniper skyrocket be grown in full sun?
In commercial settings, juniper “Skyrocket” is propagated with semi-hardwood cuttings. The plant is tolerant of both full and partial sun locations. Soil may be any pH, clay, sand, loam, or even chalky. The biggest requirement is a well-draining location, but the plant also does poorly in high humidity.
Do juniper scales damage aphids?
Juniper scale, some caterpillars, and occasionally aphids may cause minimal damage. For the most part, this is a low maintenance, easy-care plant with a host of landscape applications and years of regal beauty in the garden. Printer Friendly Version. This article was last updated on 07/23/21. Read more about Junipers.