Many gardens can no longer be imagined without juniper. There are numerous species that are valued for their different growth habits. Some remain low and prove to be good ground cover, while tall-growing shrubs are often used for privacy hedges.
Which types of juniper are popular as ornamental trees?
Popular juniper species as ornamental trees are the common juniper (Juniperus communis), Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis), scaled juniper (Juniperus squamata) and sade tree (Juniperus sabina). These species impress with their different growth forms and adaptability to different habitats.
Appearance
Juniper species grow as shrubs or trees. They are all evergreen and develop scale to needle-shaped leaves. Low species reach a height of a few meters. They predominantly develop creeping to ascending shoots. Large shrubs and trees grow upright and reach heights of over ten meters. The largest juniper grows in Turkey. It is a Syrian juniper with a height of 40 meters.
Special features of the juniper:
- aromatically scented wood
- berry-like fruits that represent cones in a botanical sense
- It usually takes one to three years for the fruit to ripen
Habitats and occurrences
Juniperus species are considered very adaptable, which makes them popular ornamental trees. Their distribution area extends from the subarctic tundra to the semi-deserts. Almost all junipers have adapted to drought. They are found in moderately dry regions of the western United States and northern Mexico. Other species grow in Asia, where they dominate the forests. Juniperus communis is the most widespread species within the conifers. It is one of the few species of the genus native to Germany.
Typical habitats:
- open heath landscapes
- sandy and gravelly soils
- Stepes and semi-deserts
Popular species and varieties
In addition to the common juniper (Juniperus communis), the Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis) is the most popular ornamental tree from the genus. While the wild form is preferably used for bonsai design, different varieties decorate sunny areas in gardens. The varieties 'Obelisk', 'Aurea', 'Pfitzeriana' and 'Variegata' are popular. The scaled juniper (Juniperus squamata) impresses as an ornamental tree with its structured shape. The branches extend straight from the trunk or grow slightly upward.
Also popular is the species Juniperus sabina, which is known as the sade tree or stink juniper. The shrub is easily confused with the common juniper, but grows lower with creeping to upright shoots. The Rocky Mountain juniper comes from western North America and is often planted as a solitary tree because of its predominantly single-stemmed growth habit.
