Juniperus communis, also known as common juniper, is a versatile and hardy evergreen shrub that can thrive in a wide range of growing conditions. With its attractive silvery-blue foliage and sprawling growth habit, this useful conifer provides year-round interest and can serve many functions in both ornamental and practical landscapes. If you’re looking to add J. communis to your outdoor space, you’ll first need to find a high-quality source for purchasing plants. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of common juniper and provide tips for locating robust, healthy plants for sale through mail order nurseries or local garden centers.
Why Choose Juniperus Communis
There are many excellent reasons to consider incorporating Juniperus communis into your landscape or garden design, Here are some of the standout benefits this species provides
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Adaptability – Thrives in poor, dry soils and tolerates drought, wind, salt exposure, high pH, and a range of light conditions.
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Versatile uses – Provides slope stabilization, erosion control evergreen structure and wildlife habitat.
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Year-round appeal – Retains foliage and its silvery-blue color through all seasons.
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Easy care – Requires little maintenance once established and is not prone to pests or diseases.
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Slow growth to 10-15 feet – Stays in scale for years and is suitable for small spaces.
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Attractive form – Natural sprawling, spreading habit provides textural interest.
With this combination of adaptability, multi-season interest, and low-maintenance care, it’s easy to see why J. communis is a go-to choice for challenging sites and gardeners looking for a tough, hardy shrub.
Mail Order Nurseries Offer Extensive Selections
One of the best ways to find a wide variety of high-quality, healthy Juniperus communis plants is to order from specialty mail order nurseries. These online retailers offer far more diverse selections, including hard-to-find cultivars, compared to local garden centers.
When choosing mail order options, look for nurseries that ship with substantial, established root balls or containers rather than bare root plants. This gives the junipers the best chance of thriving right away after planting. Here are some top mail order sources to consider:
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Nature Hills Nursery – Offers competitively priced J. communis as potted plants or bare root. Good for mass plantings.
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Bluestone Perennials – Specializes in perennials, shrubs, and small trees. Carries unique juniper cultivars.
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High Country Gardens – Focused selection of plants suited for rugged, arid climates.
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Conifer Kingdom – Wide selection of juniper species and cultivars suitable for any garden
No matter which mail order company you select, be sure to order early in the season before stock sells out. Opt for larger container sizes for more mature plants.
Check Local Nurseries for Fresh Options
Along with mail order, visiting local nurseries and garden centers can be a great way to personally select robust J. communis specimens. Here are some retail sources to explore in your region:
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Independent nurseries – Often have a wider selection beyond big box stores, including more mature plants.
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Native plant nurseries – Specialize in plants native to your eco-region, like juniper.
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Garden centers – Look for healthy plants in the shrub section. Shop early as stock is limited.
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Non-profit plant sales – Community organizations sometimes offer low-cost native plants.
No matter where you purchase junipers locally, be sure to closely inspect each plant before buying. Check for signs of good health like dense foliage, intact root balls, and no damage. This ensures your new J. communis will establish quickly.
Selecting Only the Healthiest Specimens
When sourcing Juniperus communis, either through mail order or local sellers, use these tips to pick out only the highest quality plants:
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Foliage should be dense and full throughout, with no thin or bare spots.
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Needles should be firm and upright, not brown or desiccated.
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Shape should be uniformly rounded or spreading, not lopsided.
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Root system should be well-established and intact, not loose or pot-bound.
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No signs of pests, disease, mechanical damage, or other stress.
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Radial symmetry, with even growth on all sides.
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If containerized, not root-bound or root-curled.
Taking a little extra time to carefully select the healthiest J. communis plants will give you the best chance of success and make a good investment.
Caring for Juniperus Communis After Planting
Once you’ve located and purchased top-quality Juniperus communis plants for your landscape, follow these care tips to keep them thriving:
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Plant in spring or fall, spacing 8-12 feet apart depending on mature spread.
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Prepare planting area well by amending soil and improving drainage if needed.
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Water thoroughly after planting and as needed until established.
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Apply 2-3 inches of organic mulch around the base to conserve moisture.
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Prune only lightly to shape or remove dead branches if necessary.
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Allow the natural sprawling, spreading form to develop over time.
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Provide initial protection from harsh sun and wind exposure if possible.
With its adaptability and toughness, common juniper is one of the easier shrubs to grow. But taking some extra care up front will help it settle in and fulfill its potential as a stellar landscape plant.
An Excellent Addition to Any Outdoor Space
With their year-round good looks and hardy resilience, Juniperus communis shrubs deserve a spot in many gardens and landscapes. Sourcing healthy plants from reputable mail order or local sellers will get your new J. communis off to a vigorous start. Once established, this useful evergreen conifer will provide multi-season interest and versatility for years to come. Try incorporating common juniper into your own outdoor space and enjoy its beauty and adaptability.
What Are The Best Junipers to Buy Online?
Perfect Plants offers juniper shrubs for sale in many shades of green, teal, and blue. The berries are a darker, denim color and may be covered with a dusty white coating. They are not true berries, but female seed cones with a unique, soft form.
Junipers all belong to the genus Juniperus. Many cultivars used in landscaping are derived from J. virginiana, also known as eastern red cedar. J. communis is the species commonly used for flavoring gin. In fact, to be sold as gin, juniper must be the dominant botanical used to flavor the spirit.
We’ve determined you’re in Growing Zone 10b
Juniper shrubs are well known in the landscape industry. Some are native to North America, and there may be over 400 cultivars available. Whether you call it a short tree or a shrub depends on the shape, but the woody perennial evergreen is a long-lived and reliable source of color and texture for your home.
For centuries, juniper berries have been used as a flavoring in wild game, meats, and sausages. The berries are also used to make tea. These are multiple-use plants!
Backyard birders will enjoy junipers in their yards as well. The shrubby but open growth form is excellent perching, staging, and nesting habitat. The berries are a favorite food of songbirds and game birds, including eastern bluebirds, wild turkeys, and grouse. Check out all our wildlife shrubs!
Common Juniper
FAQ
How fast does Juniperus communis grow?
It can grow both as a shrub and as a tree and reaches heights of between 5 and 8 metres. But how quickly does juniper grow? With a growth rate of 10 to 15 centimetres a year, the juniper species is a slow-growing woody plant. The evergreen juniper has prickly, grey-green needles that always grow in whorls of three.
What are the downsides of juniper trees?
Also, juniper pollen can cause hay fever. And if you live in a fire-prone area, do not put these highly flammable conifers near your home or other buildings.
When should you plant junipers?
Nursery-grown junipers in containers can be planted any time of year, but juniper shrubs with balled and burlapped roots should be planted in fall. Amend the soil in the planting area with compost if it doesn’t drain well.
What zone does Juniperus communis grow in?
Common junipers are native to the cool temperate climates of the Northern Hemisphere, and as such are tolerant of a wide range of temperatures. Considered hardy in USDA zones 2 to 7, most varieties of common juniper can withstand winter temperatures as low as minus 49 degrees Fahrenheit.
Where to buy juniper trees (juniperous)?
Buy Juniper Trees (Juniperous) available for Sale at Best Price from Conifer Kingdom. Juniperous are aromatic conifers native around the globe. Shop Today!
What are junipers used for?
Junipers are among the most popular plants used in gardens, parks, and industrial landscaping. They come in various shapes, sizes, and colors that can find a use in almost any setting. Junipers are aromatic, coniferous trees and shrubs that are native around the globe in the northern hemisphere.
Are pencil point junipers evergreen?
Be the first to write a review! Pencil Point Juniper, A small, very narrow evergreen. Stays much shorter than other narrow junipers, making it perfect for small gardens or containers. Grows in
Are juniper trees rot resistant?
Some junipers, however, keep their juvenile foliage through maturity. In addition to ornamental use, Juniperus virginiana, or Eastern Red Cedar, is the rot-resistant timber of choice for cedar construction as well as for aromatic, moth-repelling cedar chests and cedar closets, and juniper berries are used to flavor gin.
Are junipers a berry?
They are in the Cypress family, and they often have two types of foliage, and woody, leathery, or berry-like cones. The juvenile foliage of many junipers consists of short, pointed needles that develop into sprays of small, overlapping scale-like foliage at maturity.
Are junipers Hardy?
Stays much shorter than other narrow junipers, making it perfect for small gardens or containers. Grows in poor soil, tolerates urban pollution, and remains neat with no trimming. Very hardy and grows well in windy, exposed places. Overall, an excellent problem solver. LIGHT: Full sun WATER: Water when top 2 inches of soil is dry.