Here you can find a description and photo of rock juniper, its varieties, and you can also learn the principles of planting and care.

General description of rock juniper (photo on the left). Characteristics of the species: in addition to scale-like leaves, some shoots have needle-shaped ones. The shape of the cones is round or irregularly angular, there are no truncated ones at the top. The plant is frost-resistant.

Rock juniper is of North American origin. It is found high on slopes and cliffs (2000 m).

The plant has a beautiful bluish color of needles. Externally close to Virginia juniper. In nature, this is a multi-stemmed plant up to 10 - 18 m tall, side branches usually extend from the very bottom, the crown is irregularly rounded. The thickness of the shoots is slightly more than 1 mm, light green or bluish. One of the forms has an intense blue-green color of the shoots. The leaves are rhombic, triangular or lanceolate in shape with pointed tips and a resinous gland. The cones are dark blue, as if with a blue coating, with a diameter of 0.4 - 0.6 cm. The seeds reach maturity towards the end of the second year, usually there are 2 pieces in a cone, they are red-brown in color, ribbed.

Planting and caring for rock juniper. All plants are light-loving and also moderately demanding in terms of moisture and soil conditions. Read further at the link: junipers.

Frost resistance of rock juniper varieties. The value reaches approximately -28.8 C°. For regions with colder winters, you should cover for the winter or purchase zoned plants.

Decorative varieties of rock juniper (their photos and characteristics). They are distinguished by a blue tint of color, expressed to varying degrees in different varieties.

Rock juniper Blue Arrow) (see photo below) - is considered one of the narrowest varieties of juniper. A plant with a thornless columnar crown of blue color, formed by rigid vertical shoots adjacent to the trunk. Over a period of 10 years, it is represented by a height of 2 to 3 m.

Juniper s. Blue Heaven(see photo below) - cone-shaped, growing up to 2.5 m in the first 10 years. The shoots are raised, cylindrical in shape. Among the junipers, it is one of the most striking varieties with a blue color that lasts into the winter months.

Juniper s. Moonglow(see photo below) is a narrow columnar plant with a bright blue color. Characteristic feature: vertically located branches have tips sticking out to the sides. Growth rate over 10 years: up to approximately 2.5 m.

Juniper s. Silver Star(see photo below) - a fast-growing slender variety of a conical shape with vertical branches. The needles are two-colored: bluish-green shoots contain white inclusions, evenly distributed throughout the crown. Experts have noted that adult plants are the most decorative. At 10 years of age, growth is 3 meters.

Juniper s. Skyrocket(see photo below) - a slender plant in the form of a blue-green cone. Grows up to 3 m in 10 years.

Juniper s. Wichita Blue(see photo below) - a cone-shaped plant of blue color, retaining its shade all year round, the shoots are vertical. With a height of 2 m, the width is about 70 cm (10 years). In hedges the interval is 60 - 80 cm.

Thematic pages: coniferous trees, coniferous shrubs.

Coniferous plants at home or in the garden are a fashion trend that has captured a huge number of gardeners. Cedars and pines are huge plants for which there is not always room. What if you plant Blue arrow rock juniper? This charming, medium-sized tree has a number of advantages. It is unpretentious, grows well in any soil, and in terms of decorativeness it can be given 10 points out of ten.

Features of the bush

Even if your garden plot is very small, it will definitely fit a certain number of blue bushes. Blue arrow rock juniper grows slowly, but can stretch up to three meters, forming a cone-shaped crown with a diameter of about 0.7 meters.

The unique structure of the branches allows this variety to be used even as a hedge. The shoots are highly rigid, they are oriented vertically, and they adjoin the trunk very tightly. Rock juniper Blue arrow is indispensable for framing alleys, landscaping terraces, the banks of artificial reservoirs and for implementing other design solutions.

Brief description

If you see it once, you will definitely decide to plant the same one on your site. What is most impressive is the color of its needles. Rock juniper Blue arrow can be different, it depends on the soil and lighting conditions. In addition, within a species there are its own varieties, which also differ from each other. There are junipers of a dark green hue, which are far from the most spectacular. Much more interesting are the bright blue varieties.

What is very remarkable is that the trunk of the plant is practically not exposed. This is rare for conifers. The lower branches grow directly from the base, creating a striking appearance. Group plantings along a path or alley are especially good.

Landing

What is characteristic is that “Blue Arrow” is a variety that is not at all demanding on the chemical composition of the soil. It can be planted anywhere without even conducting additional analysis. The only condition that must be met is good lighting. If the area is darkened, the plant's growth will slow down. Therefore, we choose the sunniest place, it will be ideal.

If you want to plant several plants, it should be noted that in a group they look much more impressive. In this case, the recommended interval between holes should be observed. If you break this rule, Blue Arrow bushes can oppress each other and slow down growth. In addition, the luxurious crown will be squeezed by neighboring trees, which means it will be bent. So, you need to leave at least 1.5 - 2 meters between plants. The depth of the holes prepared in advance is selected based on the size of the root system. If an adult plant is being transplanted, then it is necessary to leave at least 70 cm. For a young seedling, the depth of the hole should be 2.5 times greater than the size of the clod of earth near the rhizome.

We arrange drainage

Juniper seedlings do not tolerate stagnant water, so when planting you need to pay attention to the depth of groundwater. It is better not to plant it in lowlands and holes with clay soil. And in any case, good drainage will not hurt. To do this, a layer of broken brick mixed with river sand is poured onto the bottom. The layer should be good, about 15-20 cm.

After installing the seedling, it is important to leave the root collar above ground level. In addition, it is advisable to sprinkle the hole with a nutrient composition, which is prepared from peat, turf and sand.

Plant care

The description of rock juniper initially demonstrates that this plant is unpretentious. That is, caring for it does not present any great difficulties. The only thing to consider is that Blue arrow practically does not tolerate dry air. Warmth and good lighting are good, but lack of moisture is much worse. In order for the plant to feel good, it is best to equip the area with a device for automatic watering, but not with drip, but with the help of sprinklers. Saturation of the air with water vapor has a beneficial effect on the development of the coniferous miracle.

Watering

Rock scop blue arrow requires daily watering for the first week after planting. It is best to repeat it in the morning and evening. This is how rapid adaptation to a new place occurs. Juniper roots love the flow of oxygen. It is for this purpose that drainage is organized, and the soil around the plant needs to be loosened well, by about 5-8 cm. Additionally, it is recommended to apply fertilizer, but not more than once a year. As a rule, this is done in the spring.

It’s not for nothing that we started talking about loosening, because it’s called dry watering. But plants also need water. In the first year of life, it is important to water more often, about every other day. For mature plants, the frequency of watering can be reduced. In hot weather this can be once every 4 days, and in spring and autumn - once a week. If the planting is carried out on a summer cottage, where it is not possible to travel so often, then it is advisable to mulch - cover the root circle with a layer of sawdust and pine needles.

Preparing for winter and spring pruning

This variety has excellent winter hardiness; it can easily tolerate frosts down to -30 degrees. However, given the nature of the crown, it is necessary to protect it from heavy snowfalls. It is best to tie the crown with a ribbon or string, and for the first winter the young animals are covered completely with canvas and spruce branches.

In spring, the plant needs to be inspected and pruned. Even before the sap begins to flow, you need to remove all broken and dried branches. When forming the crown, living shoots can be shortened by no more than a third.

Home content

Some gardeners decide to decorate their winter garden, central office room, reception area or greenhouse with a magnificent coniferous plant. Juniper grows quite readily at home. The main thing is to provide him with optimal conditions. The plant likes light, but does not tolerate direct sunlight. The ideal option would be to place it in front of a south window in winter, and in front of a north window in summer.

It is very important to prevent the air from overheating. The recommended air temperature is +20, it is unacceptable to lower it further than +13 degrees. In summer, it is best to take the pot out onto the balcony or into the garden. Surprisingly, juniper, which does not tolerate drafts at all, grows very well in the fresh air. It can grow a lot over the summer in the garden.

Planting container and soil

Juniper at home is much more demanding on the composition of the soil. The closed space in which its roots have to live has an effect. The ideal option would be porous soil, which will ensure uniform access of moisture to the root system. Experts in growing plants from the cypress family recommend using the following composition: sand and peat. This provides a good growing environment and also allows water and moisture to quickly penetrate to the roots.

The pot should be quite spacious, because the root system is quite developed. The choice of containers that are made from natural materials is encouraged. These are ceramics and clay, porcelain.

Instead of a conclusion

Blue arrow rock juniper is a very beautiful plant with a very dense, full crown. It is perfect for decorating garden paths, alleys and gazebos. For group plantings, it can be trimmed to give the path any shape. But even without this, the plants form a beautiful pyramidal crown. The charming color will not leave anyone indifferent.

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Landscape design of the site

Landscape design of a site is a real art, which involves a whole group of specialists. Landscape design is distinguished by individuality, because you are unlikely to find two identical plots: each house with its surrounding area and landscape is unique. Therefore, designers and planners create a landscape design that is suitable only for you and where all your dreams are realized. Landscape design is only limited by your imagination. For example, you need to beautifully decorate your terrace for a pleasant pastime. Or maybe you dream of a small pond with a cascade of murmuring water. If the project includes a swimming pool, then a changing cabin is needed, and the ground around the entire perimeter must be covered with safe materials.
Having equipped a fountain, you can listen to the sound of falling water. Some people do not need the presence of ponds on their plot, then a landscape design specialist can create the appearance of water with the help of a “dry” stream. The imagination of our landscape designers is limitless, and a photo gallery of our completed projects will help you in determining what your summer cottage should be like. Our company employs creative individuals who are experienced and highly qualified specialists who are ready to fill your garden with life, which will bring the joy of communicating with it for many years.
Our landscape design studio strives to preserve and improve the natural environment that has developed on the site. In this regard, each tree, shrub or part of the relief, at your request, will become integral organic elements of the new garden design. Our specialists love their work and will be happy to provide any assistance!

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Rock juniper is an evergreen coniferous shrub, one of the many species of the juniper family, belongs to the Cypress genus.

It grows mainly in mountainous areas in North America. Juniper has a very long lifespan: more than 1 thousand years. Cultivated since 1839.

In Russia, it has been grown in the Botanical Garden of St. Petersburg since the second half of the 60s of the last century. In the past, it was popular in agriculture due to its strong and durable wood.

Even the Indians of North America made small household items from it that had a long service life, as well as a pleasant smell and color. Also, rock juniper was used to heal wounds, skin and joint diseases; for this, patients were simply placed in the bushes of the plant.

Features of the view

Areas of application

Rock juniper is widely used in landscape compositions to decorate personal plots, in park areas to create alleys, hedges and protective strips.

Using rock varieties in the garden, you can make compositions that imitate natural ones. This variety is excellent for planting on open lawns where there are no additional decorative elements.

Although several moss-covered boulders nearby will create a completely harmonious picture. You can add richness to the landscape by planting several flower bushes next to the plant. Juniper planted with heather is also an original combination that enlivens the overall picture of the site. (By the way, you can learn about the features of using juniper in landscape design in).

But the most popular use of this coniferous plant is gardens in the Japanese direction. This approach perfectly decorates the entire landscape of the territory throughout the year. It is recommended to plant rock juniper on large alpine hills.

Varieties

This type of juniper has more than 15 varieties, but the most common and established in Russia are:

• "Blue Arrow"
• "Moonglow" (Moonglow);
• "Skyrocket" (Skyrocket).

"Blue Arrow" It is distinguished by a high narrow crown, reminiscent of a column in shape; the name translates as “blue arrow”. The growth of shoots is about 15 cm per year; this variety of rock juniper grows in 10 years from 2 to 3 meters in height and 60-70 cm in diameter.

Another advantage of “Blue Arrow”, when comparing it with another well-known variety “Skyrocket”, is the deeper and more saturated color of the plant.

Distinctive features of medium juniper varieties:

Blue Arrow is used to create landscape compositions in combination with deciduous plants, shrubs and flowers. This variety produces a beautiful hedge that takes up minimal space and does not require trimming.

Specialist's note: An important advantage of the Blue Arrow juniper is the long-term preservation of the lower branches that grow from the very beginning of the trunk, which makes it possible to endlessly experiment in various decorative uses of this variety.

"Moonglow". It is distinguished by a pyramidal crown shape, grows up to 4-6 meters in height and no more than 1-2 meters in width.

The growth of shoots is no more than 10 cm per year, they grow vertically, slightly deviating to the side. The needles are silver-blue, the plant is one of the brightest blue varieties.

This variety is drought-resistant and tolerates winter frosts well. It is mainly used for landscaping areas, parks, squares, and will also look harmonious as a potted plant for decorating terraces and balconies.