Upright Junipers

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JUNIPERS – THE UPRIGHT KIND

I was asked what I thought about Blue Arrow Juniper for narrow beds. This was my answer.

Haven’t grown Blue Arrow but it sounds OK. Here are 3 other choices that might be more dependable – especially the Taylor since it is a cultivar of our native Eastern red cedar.

1. Spartan Juniper (*Juniperus chinensis ‘Spartan’*)
Often called the “tough-as-nails” juniper, the Spartan Juniper is considered by most growers to be the most dependable upright juniper on the market.
  • Why it’s more dependable: It has incredibly rigid, dense, deep-green branches that effortlessly resist splitting from wind or snow. It is also highly tolerant of heat, cold, drought, and salt.
  • Shape: Naturally pyramidal and densely columnar, growing roughly 15 to 20 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide.
2. Taylor Juniper (*Juniperus virginiana ‘Taylor’*)
If you love the skinny, columnar look of the Blue Arrow but want better longevity, the Taylor Juniper is the premier choice.
  • Why it’s more dependable: It is a cultivar of the native Eastern Red Cedar. Because it belongs to the virginiana species rather than scopulorum (Rocky Mountain), it has far superior resistance to Phomopsis blight (a common fungal disease that browns out other upright junipers in humid climates) and handles heavy soils better.
  • Shape: It mimics the classic, slender look of an Italian Cypress, growing up to 30 feet tall but staying only 3 feet wide.
3. Trautman Juniper (*Juniperus chinensis ‘Trautman’*)
For gardeners looking for a blue-green option with high disease resilience, the Trautman Juniper is an outstanding selection.
  • Why it’s more dependable: Like the Spartan, it belongs to the tough chinensis species, meaning it features excellent resistance to juniper blight and is completely unfazed by heavy winter snows.
  • Shape: It maintains a coarse, upright, narrow habit reaching about 15 feet tall and 4 feet wide, decorated with attractive silvery-blue berries in the winter.