Ideas on Where to Plant a Juniper

Groundcover

• If you have a rocky slope or other area where you'd like to see something other than lawn, consider a spreading juniper. Using an evergreen as a groundcover may seem odd at first thought, but several species and cultivars of juniper are ideal for this type of use. Several cultivars of Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis and cvs.), Juniperus sabina and creeping juniper (Junipers horizontalis and cvs.) are ideal for groundcovers. The silvery, blue-green "Blue Chip" (Juniperus horizontalis "Blue Chip"), hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9, reaches only 12 inches tall but spreads to 6 to 8 feet wide. "Sargent's" juniper (Juniperus chinensis "Sargentii"), hardy in USDA zones 5 through 8, reaches 24 inches tall and 7 to 9 feet wide.

Adding Interest to a Boring Flower Bed

• Juniper isn't one-size-fits-all when it comes to the plants in the genus. If you're wanting to add a bit of interesting shape to an otherwise boring flower bed, several junipers will fit the bill. While some junipers have a tight shape, others offer a different approach to style. "Robusta Green" (Juniperus chinensus "Robusta Green") is one such example. This variety grows in USDA zones 5 through 9 and reaches up to 12 feet tall. Where it stands out, however, is in its rugged, columnar shape with branches that jut out. "Shoosmith" (Juniperus chinensis "Shoosmith"), hardy in USDA zones 4 through 9, has an equally irregular shape but reaches only 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide. This cultivar also offers light-green young foliage intermixed with deep, dark-green mature foliage for a bi-color effect.

Breaking Up Smooth Foliage

• Texture may be the glory of all of junipers' features. If you have an area with a lot of deciduous plants, certain junipers can help break up the monotony of the typically smooth leaves. The 3- to 4-feet tall "Gold Coast" juniper (Juniperus x pfitzeriana "Aurea Improved"), hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9, offers bright, yellow-green foliage with featherlike needles. The bright blue, fine-textured foliage of "Angelica Blue" (Juniperus chinensis "Angelica Blue") will stand out among deciduous branches. "Angelica Blue" reaches 3 to 5 feet tall and grows in USDA zones 4 through 9.

Accent

• While a juniper is an accent plant nearly anywhere it's planted, a few places around the landscape almost require a focal point. For most species and cultivars of junipers, this is simple. Common areas for a dedicated accent plant are near your entryway, along architectural details of your home, in the front lawn or in lavish flower beds. Medora juniper (Juniperus scopulorum "Medora") offers color, texture and height, the ideal characteristics for an accent. This cultivar grows in USDA zones 3 through 7 and reaches 10 feet tall by approximately 2 to 3 feet wide. For a tall focal point in the middle of your yard, Tolleson's Blue Weeping Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum "Tolleson's Blue Weeping"), hardy in USDA zones 3 through 9, reaches 20 feet tall and 10 feet wide. This cultivar's selling point is its arching branches and long, stringlike foliage.