Juniperus communis

Impressive, stiffly upright large shrub or small tree; 3-5 (8) m tall, 1-2 (3) m wide; dominant, dense or loosely branched column; slow growing.

Dioecious.

Pea-size, bluish to black berry cones; not poisonous when completely ripe.

Pointed needles, bluish green, prickly.

Deep roots, few laterals, shallow extended and not well anchored on heavy soil and thus not wind resistant.

Sun, balding in shade; tolerates heat, frost hardy; good for urban environments, sensitive to snow pressure; loose varieties are wind resistant, compact ones need wind protection.

Dry to fresh, acidic to alkaline, on all well-drained, not too nutritious and not too heavy soil.

Junipers are typically used for hedging, often planting in association with tree sp. Betula, Pinus or Sorbus. When there are too many of them, the competition leads to the death of the juniper due to increasing shade. Dwarf or small shrubs are better, such as Calluna vulgaris, varieties of Erica, Cytisus and Genista, and wild varieties of Amelanchier, Cotoneaster, Crataegus and Rosa.

In snowy regions, it pays to wrap the columns up with wires or twine to keep the twigs from bending. Once the twigs have bent to the ground, they do not rise again completely. The twine, etc. must be removed in spring.

Zone 3