Trouble is, most of the choices available have two problems – they either grow too slowly, so it takes years to get that hedge of your dreams, or they grow fast, but out as well as up, soon eating up big areas of your garden with 8 or 10 foot wide plants that need constant trimming to keep them in check. Not any more. With the Full Speed A Hedge® Arborvitae you get rapid growth – 3 to 4 feet per year – but up, not out, so that a mature tree that has not been trimmed will be 20 feet tall in just a few years, but stay only 3 feet wide – even less with occasional trimming. So now, even in a small garden, you can have tall, sheltering and screening hedges, and still keep your garden free and open, for family fun or an amazing plant collection. With this outstanding new introduction it will be ‘full speed ahead’ for the hedges and garden of your dreams.

Growing the Full Speed A Hedge® Arborvitae

Size and Appearance

The Full Speed A Hedge® Arborvitae is a new variety of the native white cedar, Thuja or arborvitae. That reliable hedging plant has been a favorite for decades, especially in colder zones, but the wild version tends to be slow growing, and hedges take years to achieve enough height to work well for screening or as a wind-break. With the Full Speed A Hedge® variety the growth rate has been super-charged, making 3 feet a year easily achievable, ans 4 feet a year possible under ideal conditions. Even more important, all that growth is directed upwards, even if you never trim. So instead of a fat hedge consuming 5 feet or more of your garden, the Full Speed A Hedge® Arborvitae puts all that effort into ‘up’, making an untrimmed hedge 20 feet tall but just 3 feet wide within just a few years.
The foliage is dense, forming flat fans of rich green closely placed together, at about twice the density of a typical white cedar. This gives you a dense, private screen of beautiful neutral green that is handsome and fresh year-round. So even in the depths of winter your hedge will be glowing green, and in spring and summer its lighter greens are the perfect backdrop to your garden, whether it’s a simple lawn or a complex flower and shrub garden.

Using the Full Speed A Hedge® Arborvitae in Your Garden

When it comes to planting a slim hedge, this is one evergreen that stands head and shoulders above the competition. Not just literally, but in color, density of foliage, hardiness and ease of growth. For the quickest hedge space plants 2 feet apart, and if you have a wider space plant a double row, with the rows 3 feet apart and the plants 3 feet apart, but staggered in the spaces of the other row. Your final hedge will be no more than 6 feet wide, and it will be a solid, impenetrable screen that cuts traffic noise, gives absolute privacy, and tames the strongest winds. Even in a single row it does all these things, quicker and better than any other arborvitae can do. When planting, set your plants 3 feet back from property boundaries, or other obstructions.

Grow this great new plant as a conventional hedge, but don’t forget its value as a garden accent, grown alone or in clusters of 3, 5 or even 7 plants, out on lawn or in shrub beds. Plant it around your home in the bare angles between walls, and remember that arborvitae doesn’t have the foundation-damaging roots of most deciduous trees, so it can be planted close to walls with confidence.

Hardiness

Because it is a variety of the native eastern white cedar, the Full Speed A Hedge® Arborvitae is incredibly cold resistant, growing undamaged in zone 3, and right into zone 7. It is suited for the northeast – there are other fast-growing evergreens more suitable for hotter areas in the southeast. It will also grow well in the northwest, where the seasons are mild and rain is plentiful.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

It’s best to plant your Full Speed A Hedge® Arborvitae in full sun if you want maximum growth and density, but it will also be happy with a few hours of shade each day – unlike other evergreens – and in zone 7 afternoon shade is fine. Avoid planting in areas with limited sun, as growth will be weak and lack density.

It grows well in most soils, including acidic or alkaline soils, and is happy in clay soils too. Don’t plant it in hot, dry, sandy soils as this is a moisture-loving plant that is even happy in wet areas and places that might flood for short periods. If you are looking for hedges for dry areas, take a look at our wide-selection of Junipers, renowned for their drought tolerance.

Maintenance and Pruning

Prepare the planting area with some deep digging and mix in some rich compost or other organic materials If you want to see just how fast the Full Speed A Hedge® Arborvitae can grow, start feeding it every month with liquid evergreen fertilizer, from spring right to the early part of fall. Avoid feeding late into fall, especially in cold zones, as new growth may brown during the winter. Water regularly too, and this combination of liquid fertilizer and water will give you growth you won’t believe. Remember that during the first season your plants will be establishing roots, so stem growth will not be at its maximum. ‘Full speed’ starts in the second season. Once established, switch to one spring application of slow-release granular fertilizer for on-going good health. Light trimming of the sides will give you the densest hedge, but you only need to do this once or twice a year. Always trim so that the bottom is wider than upper growth, so that you keep a dense hedge right to the ground. Wait in spring for the new growth to darken in color before trimming.

As for pests, don’t worry, this selected native tree is not eaten by deer, and it almost never suffers from any significant pests or diseases, especially if well-watered and growing in good soil.

History and Origin of the Full Speed A Hedge® Arborvitae

The unusual name of this plant comes from ‘arbor-vitae’, meaning ‘tree of life’. The early French explorer Jacques Cartier gave it this name when he brought it back to France in the 16th century because native Americans had saved the lives of his men by giving them a tea made from this plant. It saved them from scurvy, and has more Vitamin C than orange juice. Botanists call it Thuja occidentalis, and it grows from eastern and central Canada down through the eastern states, usually growing wild along the edges of wet-lands and swampy areas. It can be found in Ohio and Illinois all the way to higher altitudes in North Carolina.

Officially known as ‘American Pillar’, this tree was discovered by John Houser at his nursery in Cherokee country, Georgia, growing among a crop of 500 plants of the variety ‘Hetz Wintergreen’. That original plant, from a tiny cutting, grew to 21 feet tall and 3 feet wide in just 6 seasons. Recognizing its potential, John patented it in 2009 – the year of his 80th birthday. He and his wife Mavis renamed their nursery American Pillar Nursery and specialized in this fabulous new plant. It was soon taken up by Spring Meadow Nursery of Michigan, and released by them in their Proven Winners® collection with the registered trademark of Full Speed A Hedge®.

Buying the Full Speed A Hedge® Arborvitae at The Tree Center

The Full Speed A Hedge® Arborvitae is a real breakthrough in creating screens and hedges faster than anyone thought possible – not thin, spindly hedges but dense, thick hedges, in just a few years. Hedges that won’t engulf your garden but give you the privacy and weather protection you need for the perfect garden of your dreams. Order your plants now – orders are coming in even faster than this plant grows, so our stock will soon all be gone.

Growing Thuja Junior Giant

Size and Appearance

Growing the Thuja Junior Giant is a rewarding journey in landscaping, offering ease and elegance to your outdoor haven. This coniferous evergreen tree features a slower, denser growth habit compared to its towering parent, the Green Giant, making it a perfect choice for smaller yards. Reaching a mature height of 15 to 20 feet with a pyramidal form, the Junior Giant boasts a well-defined structure that adds sophistication to any garden. The feathery foliage, characterized by smaller, dark green leaves, emits a delightful evergreen scent when touched. Thriving in zones 5-8, this tree prefers well-drained soils and full sun for optimal growth. Minimal pruning is required, and any necessary trimming should be done in spring, allowing the Junior Giant to flourish with its natural charm, creating a picturesque presence in your landscape.

Using Thuja Junior Giant In Your Garden

For an efficient and lush privacy screen, strategically planting Junior Giant Arborvitaes is your key to swift results. To expedite the creation of a verdant barrier around your home or property, space the trees approximately 8 feet apart from each other. This close arrangement ensures a quick and effective privacy solution. However, if patience is on your side, extending the gap to 10 to 12 feet will still yield privacy, albeit at a more measured pace. The Junior Giant’s robust root system makes it an excellent candidate for windbreaks, withstanding even the fiercest winter gusts. In addition to privacy, these trees serve as effective sound buffers, dampening noise from bustling streets or boisterous neighbors. When planting for windbreaks or sound barriers, consider the tree’s pyramidal growth pattern, allowing ample space for symmetrical expansion. Optimal results are achieved by planting in a staggered row, with a second row positioned 6 to 8 feet in front of the first, bridging the gaps between plants for an almost instant shield from unwanted noise or wind intrusion.

Soil Conditions

Thuja Junior Giant Arborvitaes flourish when planted in well-drained soils that strike a balance between moisture and aeration. These adaptable trees can tolerate a wide range of soil types but thrive best in soils with good drainage. While they are relatively adaptable to varying pH levels, providing a slightly acidic to neutral soil environment is preferable. Aim for a pH range between 6.0 and 7.0 for optimal growth. Additionally, incorporating organic matter into the soil during planting aids in moisture retention and promotes a healthy root system. Ensuring proper soil conditions is a fundamental step in nurturing these evergreens to their full potential, contributing to their longevity and vitality throughout the seasons.

Maintenance and Pruning

Maintaining your Thuja Junior Giant Arborvitaes is a breeze, making them an ideal addition to any landscape. These trees boast a naturally pyramidal form, requiring minimal pruning to preserve their shape. For optimal performance, prune sparingly in early spring after the first flush of new growth. Remove any damaged or dead branches to encourage a tidy appearance. Thanks to their slow growth rate and compact size, Junior Giants seldom demand extensive pruning, providing a hassle-free experience for homeowners. Regular watering during dry spells, especially in the first year, contributes to their overall health. With straightforward maintenance needs, these evergreens effortlessly bring beauty and structure to your outdoor space year-round.

History and Origins of the Thuja Junior Giant

Thuja Junior Giant, a remarkable coniferous evergreen, is a scaled-down version of its popular parent, the Thuja Green Giant. Developed as a more compact alternative, ‘Junior Giant’ retains the favorable qualities of its predecessor while offering a smaller footprint for diverse landscaping needs. The Thuja genus, commonly known as arborvitae, originates from North America and East Asia. Renowned for its adaptability and hardiness, the Thuja Green Giant, and subsequently the Junior Giant, became prominent choices for privacy screens, windbreaks, and ornamental plantings. Developed by horticultural experts, ‘Junior Giant’ stands as a testament to continuous refinement and innovation in the world of landscaping, providing homeowners with an excellent choice for greenery that adds aesthetic appeal and functionality to their outdoor spaces.

Buying Thuja Junior Giant at The Tree Center

Elevate your garden game with our Thuja Junior Giant from The Tree Center. It’s not just a tree; it’s a green solution for your privacy needs. Tired of lackluster landscapes? This pint-sized evergreen stands tall and proud, offering lush greenery and low-maintenance charm. Say goodbye to nosy neighbors and hello to a flourishing garden. Join the ranks of satisfied garden enthusiasts who’ve embraced the magic of Junior Giant Arborvitae. It’s not just a tree; it’s a green revolution, available now at The Tree Center. Upgrade your garden experience!

Growing the Blue Ice Arizona Cypress

Size and Appearance

The Blue Ice Arizona Cypress is a fast-growing small evergreen tree that will add as much as two feet a year when young, and 12 inches or more even as it approaches maturity. It will grow to about 25 feet tall in 15 years or so, and after that continue to grow throughout its life, adding several inches each year. It has a single straight central trunk, with radiating branches that are horizontal to slightly pendulous, creating a graceful form reminiscent of the true cedar trees. The foliage is soft and fine, with many thin sub-branches, creating a lacy look, and when crushed it has a delicious smell of lemons and mint. The color is outstanding – a spectacular silver blue free of any green, and it gives this tree a real knock-out look. This tree will grow at least 8 feet wide, or more in time, so allow plenty of room for it to develop, and don’t plant too close to walls or fences, or beneath power lines. Its soft branches give it a natural light and airy look, different from the stiff formality of blue spruce. Older trees often produce clusters of small, round, woody cones covered in a blue powdery coating.

Using the Blue Ice Arizona Cypress in Your Garden

You can grow this tree anywhere in your garden, but it is most effective as a specimen on a lawn, alone or in clusters of 3, 5 or 7. It also makes an excellent screen or hedge, and it can be clipped into a dense surface. It can be grown as a clipped specimen too, around your home or in your shrub beds.

Hardiness

The Blue Ice Arizona Cypress grows well in zones 7, 8 and 9, as well as in sheltered spots in zone 6. Although heat tolerant, there is not enough winter cold for it to grow well in zone 10. For colder zones consider the Blue Juniper, Juniperus virginiana, with similar blue foliage, which is hardy to zone 3, and the Italian Cypress in zone 10.

Sun Exposure and Soil Conditions

Your Blue Ice Arizona Cypress will grow best in full sun and it loves being out in open, sunny spots. It grows perfectly in any well-drained soil, and that includes poor sandy and rocky soils as well as tough clays. Once established it is remarkably drought tolerant, although the fastest growth will happen with a regular supply of water.

Maintenance and Pruning

Pests and diseases are not usually problems, especially when grown with plenty of sun and on well-drained soil. This tree is completely resistant to deer, who are repelled by the same smell we find attractive. It can be trimmed as you wish anytime from spring to fall, and it is better to clip lightly and regularly. Never cut back into bare branches, as these will not leaf out again.

History and Origin of the Blue Ice Arizona Cypress

You can find the Arizona cypress, Cupressus arizonica, growing in areas of Arizona and New Mexico, and also across mountains in northern Mexico. As has so often happened with attractive plants, trees have been grown from seed around the world, even as far away as New Zealand. It was there that a nursery called Duncan & Davies, in New Plymouth, on the north island of New Zealand, grew some seeds of a selected form of the Arizona cypress noted for blue foliage and called ‘var. glabra’. This was the country’s oldest nursery, established in the 1890s, and over the years it produced many special forms of different trees. Those Arizona cypress seeds produced plants by 1960 and among them was an outstanding individual with stunning blue foliage. They named that unique plant ‘Blue Ice’, and it was introduced back into North America in 1984.

Buying the Blue Ice Arizona Cypress at the Tree Center

That original tree made a long journey, and since then it has been carefully preserved through stem cuttings to be just as good as it was 60 years ago. Since then it has gained a reputation as one of the best and bluest of all conifers. Order now, because trees of this quality just don’t stay on our farm for long at all.

The American Arborvitae is an upright growing, columnar evergreen tree that will in time be over 20 feet tall, and can eventually reach as much as 40 feet, depending on the conditions it grows in. It has a width of only 10, or at most 15 feet, and the foliage is kept low to the ground for many years, with trees only developing a trunk of any height after a decade or two. A conifer, it does not have the typical needles we see with other conifers like pine trees – instead it has tiny, scale-like needles that cover the thin young branches tightly, making them appear bright green. These young branches are clustered into fan-like sprays, making a dense, full look to even unclipped plants. Trunks and older branches have attractive silvery-red bark, which peels away in long vertical strips, making an attractive effect. As a conifer this tree doesn’t flower, but on older plants you will see clusters of small cones, about ½ inch long. These begin yellowish-green, and mature to a light brown, when they split open and release seeds.

With its attractive upright form, dense growth, and rich green foliage, the American Arborvitae is perfect as a specimen tree in a lawn, alone or in clusters of 3 or 5. Placed in the corners of your property they give a sense of enclosure, and complete the scene, and individual trees can also be placed among large shrubs, to provide a vertical accent and winter interest. Since it is native, planting along the edges of woodland will enhance it, without upsetting the ecology. It enjoys water, so this plant looks great along a stream, by a pond or lake, or in any low-lying, damp areas.

Growing American Arborvitae Trees

For many gardens, the American Arborvitae is first and foremost a plant for screening and hedges, left to grow naturally, or trimmed for a neat look. In colder regions it is the classic hedging plant, and many gardens are enclosed with such hedges or screens. For a natural screen, plant 5 or 6 feet apart, and for clipped hedges 3 foot spacing is right. Don’t plant too closely, as each plant needs to develop well, and if you plant too close, some of the plants will eventually die, leaving awkward gaps in your hedge. As well, they will struggle for the light, and the lower branches will die, leaving that vital part of your hedge bare and open. This tree grows at a rate of 6 to 12 inches a year when young, slowing as it matures to 1 or 2 inches a year. Plants that are trimmed regularly will continue to develop about 6 inches of new growth between trimmings. 

The American Arborvitae grows well from zone 2 to 7. In very cold zones some bronzing of the foliage in winter is normal, and plants quickly green-up again when spring comes. A very adaptable and tough plant, it will grow in most soils, if they are not too dry, and it grows well in wet conditions too. Young plants should be given plenty of water, but mature trees will tolerate ordinary periods of summer drought well, at least in cooler zones. It has no important pests or diseases, and any damage is much more likely due to drought and lack of basic care, than to pests. 

Trim as desired, between late spring, after the first flush of new growth, up until early fall. Avoid trimming later in fall, or during hot, dry weather. Trimming makes the growth very dense and lush, allowing solid hedges and formal specimens to be easily created. When trimming hedges, keep the top narrower than the bottom, to allow light to the ground, and to keep the lower parts green and thick for many years. Do not trim into bare wood, as it cannot re-sprout, so trim little and often. Plants that are clipped regularly should be fed in spring and perhaps again in late summer, to keep them green and vigorous, and feeding is beneficial for unclipped plants too. Don’t fertilize too late in the season, especially in cold areas, as late new growth may be killed by cold. In late fall, plants should be watered deeply, before the ground freezes, to protect from winter burn. 

History and Origins of American Arborvitae Trees

The American arborvitae, Thuja occidentalis, grows wild in eastern Canada, and in the north-eastern states, from Minnesota to Maine, and as far south as the mountains of Tennessee. It is usually found in rocky soils, around lakes, and along streams, and on cliffs, in mountains and in wetlands. This is a very long-lived tree, and some are among the oldest trees in North America – over 1,000 years old. The name ‘arborvitae’ means ‘tree of life’ because a tea made from the foliage contains high levels of vitamin C. The French explorer Jacques Cartier was shown this by native Americans, saving the lives of members of his expedition.

There is a lot to be said for growing the natural form of trees, especially native ones, without always planting special garden varieties. For the best hedges, this is especially true. Choose the American arborvitae in its natural form, like many other gardeners do. Our stock is selling fast, so order now, while we still have plants left for you.

Growing Star Power Juniper

The Star Power Juniper is a fast-growing tree, adding more than 12 inches a year to its height when young. Within ten years it will be 15 to 18 feet tall, and between 7 and 9 feet wide, making a broad, upright flame-shaped bush, with foliage right to the ground. It has a natural compact shape, but if you want a more formal look, it is easy to trim, and you can create a narrower form, or a shorter one, and adjust it to your wishes, to create the perfect, custom form you want. This rugged plant is perfect for a screen or hedge, with an informal look, or a more trimmed, formal shape. Either way it will give you protection, because this tough plant is resistant to cold, wind and heat.

Appearance

Junipers have two kinds of foliage. Young seedling plants have leaves that grow outwards from the stems, in a star-like pattern. This protects the plants from grazing animals like deer. Older stems, once the plant is taller, have leaves that cling to the stems tightly, giving a smoother look. Some plants don’t change from the young, juvenile foliage, into the adult foliage, and the Star Power Juniper is like that. As a result, all the leaves stay juvenile for the life of the tree, giving the plant a softer look, and enhancing its resistance to deer and rabbits. That softer look, and the way the leaves look star-like when looked at from the top of a branch, gives this great shrub its name – Star Power. The foliage is a rich, slightly silvery, gray green, and in late fall, when the colder weather arrives, it often takes on a beautiful purple sheen, bringing a new coloring to your garden for the winter months.

Planting and Initial Care

Grow the Star Power Juniper in full sun for best results and compact growth. It will grow in any well-drained soil, including poor, sandy soils and urban conditions. Water newly-planted trees at least weekly, especially during summer, but once established this tree is very drought resistant, and thrives in hot, dry locations. Besides drought resistance, it is also resistant to salt -spray, so it grows well near the coast and the beach. It almost never suffers from any pests or diseases, and it is normally left alone by deer and rabbits. For a dense screen or hedge in a few years, plant 3, 4, or 5 feet apart in a row. An extra solid screen can be created by planting in a double row, 5 or 6 feet apart, with the rows 3 feet apart. Stagger the planting so that each plant sits in the space between the plants in the opposite row. If you are using it in planter boxes, for screening a patio or terrace, make sure the boxes have drainage holes, and once the plants are established, only water when the top few inches of soil are dry. If you want to trim your trees, do it in late winter or early spring, and again at the beginning of fall. This will keep your trees covered in fresh foliage, and avoid any risk of winter injury.

History and Origins of the Star Power Juniper

The Star Power Juniper was found in 1998 by Michael Yanny, at Johnson’s Nursery in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. He spotted this unique seedling, with its attractive foliage and rich blue-green coloring. Examination of the plant suggests that it is probably a hybrid tree. This would explain its vigor, toughness and fast growth, since hybrid plants are usually stronger than either parent. The parents are believed to be Juniperus communis, the common juniper, and Juniperus chinensis, the Chinese juniper. The common juniper grows throughout the Northern Hemisphere, across Europe, Russia, Asia and North America. It is found at the Arctic Circle, so it is very winter hardy and tough. Usually a small tree to 30 feet or so, it also grows as a wide, spreading bush. The Chines juniper is found in China, Mongolia, Japan, Korea and southeastern Russia, and it is more like a shrub than a tree, but just as tough, and it is also salt-resistant. It is noted for often keeping its juvenile foliage for life. With parents as tough as these, it is no surprise that the Star Power Juniper is so tough. Johnson’s Nursery named it ‘JN Select Blue’, but it is usually sold as the Star Power Juniper. 

Our plants are grown from stem pieces derived from that original plant, and with its rapid growth they will soon be an attractive presence in your garden. The demand for tough plants is huge, and we only have limited supplies of this very desirable bush, so order now, or risk being disappointed by that ‘out of stock’ sign when you come back.

The Taylor Juniper grows naturally, without trimming, into a tight column of silvery blue-green foliage, reaching 18 feet or more, and staying a mere 3 feet wide. The foliage grows right to the ground, in dense clusters that fill out the form perfectly, and never become untidy. If you are keen on a super-formal look, or you want to create a tight hedge, then yes, you can trim as needed, and the growth will become even denser and tighter, but trust us, you really don’t need to trim for a totally neat look. Older plants produce clusters of small, blue-black berries that add visual interest. They are also edible, like the classic European juniper berry, but with a milder, less bitter taste. They can be used for flavoring stews and meat, especially deer, boar and other game meats. If you don’t eat them, the birds will, and many species, including cedar waxwings and bluebirds, use them as a valuable food source.

Growing Taylor Junipers

The Taylor Juniper is a rugged plant, capable of surviving in exposed places, so it can be used to create a tough barrier that will resist wind, cold, saline soil and salt spray, as well as drought and poor soil. Whatever nature throws at it, the Taylor Juniper will persist, after a little care to help it become established. Not only is this plant handsome and perfect for creating vertical accents in your garden, or giving a formal touch to it, but it is also terrific for new gardens, urban conditions, exposed sites, beach frontage, and other difficult areas. In colder zones the foliage color becomes richer and darker in winter, and it may take on some bronze coloring too.

Planting and Initial Care

Plant your new Taylor Junipers in full sun, for the best dense growth and foliage color. They will grow in any well-drained soil, including sandy and rocky soils, alkaline soils, salt-contaminated soils, urban soils, and just about any soil at all, except for wet ones. Wherever you live you can grow this tough plant, because it is hardy all the way from zone 3, with winter lows of minus 40, all the way through into zone 9, with its summer heat and humidity. It rarely suffers from pests or diseases, and deer and rabbits normally leave them alone. Finally, unlike many other tough plants for starting a garden, they are long-lived, becoming better and better as they age.

History and Origins of the Taylor Juniper

The red juniper, Juniperus virginiana, is also called eastern redcedar, although it is not a true cedar. It grows naturally throughout the eastern states, from eastern Texas to the Atlantic, and north to most of the Great Lakes. It naturally grows in open, grassy areas, as well as along highways, in abandoned fields and on old construction sites. This ability to colonize difficult places is why it comes well-equipped to grow in difficult garden locations too. The tree is durable – the oldest known is over 900 years old – and it can grow over 80 feet tall and over 5 feet wide, although normally it is smaller than that. It naturally has an upright, narrow form, but it is very variable, and most plants are open and irregular in form. 

The late Allen Wilke ran the Wilke Landscape Center in Columbus, Nebraska for many years, and he was an active board member of the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum. That unique group maintains over 100 parks and arboretums across the state, in different growing areas. Allen Wilke had a sharp eye for plants, and in the 1970s he was around Taylor, Nebraska when he spotted a very special juniper growing in the grasslands. I was much neater and narrower than normal, with beautiful silver-green foliage. He took some pieces, and these became the original Taylor Juniper. The new plant was released by the Arboretum in 1992, and it was one of their ‘GreatPlants Introductions’ for 2003. Our plants are derived from those original pieces, and they will grow just as narrow and tight as the plant Allen Wilke spotted that day. Such rugged and yet beautiful plants are hard to find, and gold when we do find them, so the demand for this tree is huge, and our supply small. Order now, while our stock holds out.

Growing Green Columnar Junipers

The fast-growing Green Columnar Juniper develops quickly into a strong upright pillar of deep-green foliage. It will grow to 15 or 18 feet tall and be just 5 to 8 feet wide. Young plants have an open look, unless they are trimmed, but as it matures this plant becomes fuller and denser, with dense foliage. The leaves are scale-like, clinging to the branches, and they are a rich green, especially when new, becoming darker with a hint of blue with maturity. Older plants, especially if unclipped, may develop clusters of rounded blue-black berry-like seed cones ¼ to ½ inch across.

Uses on Your Property

Because it is so tough, and able to handle drought and blazing sun, you can confidently plant the Green Columnar Juniper in places where many other evergreens would fail. Its ornamental qualities and ability to easily create strong vertical accents – such an important element in any garden – means this plant has a host of uses. If you have a blank courtyard to deal with, plant one in each corner, add some brightly colored urns, and instantly turn that empty space into a stylish Moorish retreat. Deal with a big blank wall by painting it ochre and plant a row, spaced well apart, and you have that Arizona look.

Plant them closer together – about 3 feet apart – and you have an upright narrow screen that is super-tough. You can leave it to grow naturally, or clip it once or twice as year, as you choose. Plant a group of three on a lawn, or in a gravel yard, for a compelling focal point, or create an avenue along your driveway with the Green Columnar Juniper standing at attention to greet you. If you have a steep, awkward slope to deal with, and the risk of soil erosion, then the strong roots of this tree will hold it all together, while making a striking forest of columns everyone will admire.

Growing in Planter Boxes and Pots

Then there are planter boxes and pots, where the drought-proof Green Columnar Juniper won’t mind at all if you forget to water regularly, and where you can clip them into tapering columns, spirals, and any other upright shape your imagination can create. A pair on either side of a doorway or entrance would be perfect.

Planting and Initial Care

Plant the Green Columnar Juniper in full sun, for the best color and densest growth. It will grow in any soil that doesn’t stay wet for long, and once established this tree is very drought tolerant, toughing it out in the hottest weather with no problems at all. It almost never suffers from pests or diseases, and although deer are unpredictable, they rarely bother with junipers. Already fast-growing, you can add even more inches by using an evergreen fertilizer, and watering regularly, especially when your plants are young. For a very neat look, clip once or twice a year. You can trim throughout the spring and summer, and in fall too in hotter zones, but avoid trimming before cold weather, and during droughts.

History and Origins of the Green Columnar Juniper

The Green Columnar Juniper is a selected form of the Chinese juniper (juniperus chinensis). This tree can be found growing naturally in China, Mongolia and Japan. It is very variable, sometimes growing into a large tree 60 feet tall, and other times becoming a big, spreading shrub. It is found growing on hillsides and in rocky places, often in areas with low rainfall, so Mother Nature has already made it tough and drought resistant.

Neil R. Heitz worked at the Fairview Nursery in Pennsylvania in the 1940s. While growing seedlings of the Chinese juniper, he spotted an outstanding plant, with very vigorous growth and great rich-green foliage. It may be that he meant to call it ‘Heitz’s Column’, but his name became confused with another popular juniper called ‘Hetzii’, so today we know this plant as ‘Hetzii Columnaris’, although it is not related to the original ‘Hetzii’ variety, which is a hybrid juniper discovered in Germany.

The vigorous young trees we will ship to you are grown by taking stem pieces from plants descended from that original seedling. They are then attached by grafting to roots of the ‘Hetzii’ variety of juniper, which has an especially vigorous and profuse root system. This supports the rapid growth of the Green Column Juniper, so you get the best possible plant. The demand for these tough, reliable evergreens is always enormous, so order now, while our stocks remain available.

A great specimen plant, the Blue Arrow Juniper is an evergreen tree that grows rapidly into a vertical pillar, 10 to 12 feet tall and just 2 feet wide after 10 years of growth. This narrow form is highly desirable, and it fits perfectly as an accent in an informal planting, as balanced pairs or groups in formal gardens, and as an ideal specimen for planters and pots. The most striking feature of this plant is the brilliant silver-blue foliage, rich and intense, which retains its color throughout the year, becoming even more intense in spring, when the new growth begins. This dramatic color blends perfectly in any color scheme, and with all the flowering trees and shrubs you might plant around it.

Growing Blue Arrow Junipers

The Blue Arrow Juniper has so many uses in the garden it is hard to know where to begin. At its simplest, plant one at the end of a long lawn, or to create a focal point for a view across your garden. Use it as an exclamation point in a bed of rounded shrubs and other flowering plants. By making the eye pause, you take in so much more of the garden scene. Plant a row for screening, to separate one part of the garden from another, and to emphasize a pathway or driveway. Depending on how far apart you plant them, the effect will be different. Spaced about 3 feet apart you will have an almost solid screen, like a slatted fence. With wider spacing – 5 to 15 feet – you will create an avenue effect. As well, it can be grown in more natural settings, on slopes and in rocky places, and as this is an American native plant, it fits perfectly into any natural garden.

Going in a different direction, you can plant the Blue Arrow Juniper with other, different, evergreens among gravel and rocks for an easy but attractive garden feature. In planters and boxes, it gives you great vertical height, and you can plant annual flowers around the base for a fuller, more colorful effect.

Not only is the Blue Arrow Juniper useful, it is also very easy to grow. It is hardy all the way through zone 4, and just as happy in hot zone 9, including the drier states. This makes it a great substitute for the Italian Cypress in colder areas, since that tree only grows into zone 7. With the same narrow, upright form, you can use the Blue Arrow Juniper to create a Mediterranean ambience in your garden, with trees balanced to frame a doorway or entrance, or planted in the four corners of a patio, terrace or courtyard.

Planting and Initial Care

This tough plant does best in full sun, where the blue coloring will also be more intense, and the foliage dense and tight. It grows in just about any soil, including poor, rocky soils, just so long as they do not stay wet for long periods – good drainage is essential. Water regularly when young, but once established this is a very drought resistant plant, surviving during long dry periods with ease. It is also generally free of pests and diseases, and rarely eaten by deer. Oh, and did we mention that it is also very resistant to salt spray? It is, and it grows well even in exposed coastal locations, so it’s a terrific choice for beach frontages too.

History and Origins of the Blue Arrow Juniper

The Blue Arrow Juniper is a selected form of the Rocky Mountain Juniper (juniperus scopulorum). This North American native-tree grows wild from Washington state to North Dakota, and south into Arizona and southern Texas. It also grows across the northern border in British Columbia, and south into Mexico. It is almost always found growing in dry soil in mountain regions, and its name ‘scopulorum’ means ‘of mountains’.

The wild tree grows between 15 to 20 feet tall, and it is very variable in shape, sometimes growing as a broad, angular shrub, and other times as a more erect tree. This means that seedlings show a lot of variation, and this is exactly how this variety was found, as a unique seedling among a batch growing at Pine Grove Nurseries, in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, in 1949. The seedling was much tighter and narrower than any other forms, and it was carefully preserved, and named ‘Blue Arrow’.

Our trees are created by taking upright stems from mature trees, and skillfully joining them to the roots of seedling Rocky Mountain Junipers, by the process of grafting. This creates a single, unified plant, which exactly preserves the unique properties of that original seedling – tall, straight and very blue – like an arrow shooting into the sky. Everyone loves these upright accents, and our stock will soon be gone. If you want to enjoy this plant in your own garden, you need to order right away, while we still have stock available.