Is juniper a hardy plant?
The sub-zero winters and short summers of USDA plant hardiness zone 3 present a real challenge for gardeners, but cold hardy juniper plants make the job easier. Choosing hardy junipers is easy too, because many junipers grow in zones 3 and a few are even tougher!
What zones do junipers grow in?
Junipers are hardy plants that do well in drought conditions. They’ll grow in dry soil that ranges from sand to clay, and they can take a wide range of pH levels. Some are even especially well-suited to salt exposure. They are also, as a rule, hardy from zone 5 to zone 9.
Where does Juniperus communis grow?
It is the most widespread conifer growing in the world today. It is primarily native to coniferous forests, alpine open areas and plains in a circumpolar distribution which includes sites in Europe, Asia and North America, extending in some cases to within the Arctic Circle.
Can you grow juniper in Canada?
Junipers are evergreen conifers and comprise the genus Juniperus of the cypress family (Cupressaceae). About 60 species occur worldwide, primarily in the Northern Hemisphere; 4 are native to Canada. Of these, eastern red cedar (J. virginiana) of the Great Lakes region, and Rocky Mountain juniper (J.
Are junipers cold hardy?
Juniper trees are known to be winter hardy and drought resistant, and many can withstand sub-zero temperatures during the winter. Juniper hardiness zones begin at zone 3, while most juniper trees can actually qualify as hardy up to zone 9.
How far apart should junipers be planted?
Space ground cover varieties at least 5 to 6 feet apart. Hedge cultivars should be spaced 2 to 4 feet apart depending on the desired appearance. Plant larger juniper cultivars away from buildings, allowing enough room for the tree to grow to its maximum mature width without interference.
What is the difference between juniper and cedar?
Eastern Red Cedar is very closely related to the Common Juniper, in fact they are in the same genus. The key obvious difference is that Juniper seldom grows as a tree, whereas Red Cedar nearly always does.
Do juniper trees grow in the cold?
What does Juniperus communis look like?
Juniperus communis is very variable in form, ranging from 10 metres (33 ft)—rarely 16 m (52 ft)—tall to a low, often prostrate spreading shrub in exposed locations. It has needle-like leaves in whorls of three; the leaves are green, with a single white stomatal band on the inner surface. It never attains adult foliage.
How fast does Juniperus communis grow?
10 to 15 centimetres a year
With a growth rate of 10 to 15 centimetres a year, the juniper species is a slow-growing woody plant.
Are Juniperus chinensis berries edible?
Yes, juniper berries are edible. In fact, you may have tasted them before without even knowing it if you drink alcoholic beverages. Juniper berries are what gives a gin martini its unique flavoring.
Are junipers native to Ontario?
Ground juniper is native to boreal North America and has a trans-Canadian distribution. Ground juniper occurs throughout Ontario.
How Hardy is junierus communis?
Hardy to USDA Zone 2 Junierus communis has a wider distribution than any other tree or shrub and the only circumpolar conifer of the northern hemisphere.
What is a common juniper?
Common juniper is an evergreen coniferous shrub or small tree, with very variable structure, most often seen as a low, spreading shrub, but occasionally growing as a tree reaching mature heights of 30 feet (10 m) tall. This species is dioecious, with male and female cones on separate plants, which are wind pollinated.
How tall does a juniper tree grow?
In North America, it most often grows as a low mat-forming shrub reaching up to 5 ft. in height (150 cm) and 7-13 ft. across (210-390 cm). In parts of New England, Common Juniper occasionally grows up to 25 ft. (750 cm) in height, and it is commonly a tree in Europe.
What does a juniper leaf look like?
The aromatic, prickly, needle-like, gray-green leaves are arranged in whorls of 3. Unlike most junipers, whose leaves turn scale-like at maturity, Common Juniper leaves remain needle-like throughout the shrub’s life.