Plant, Tree & Shrub Library

Description:

An excellent massing or groundcover evergreen shrub, with dusty bluish-green fine-textured foliage, showy blue berries and a spreading, arching habit of growth, very adaptable but needs full sun

Ornamental Features

Grey Owl Juniper is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the garden for its cascading habit of growth. It has attractive gray evergreen foliage. The scale-like sprays of foliage are highly ornamental and remain gray throughout the winter. It produces silvery blue berries from late spring to late winter.

Landscape Attributes

Grey Owl Juniper is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a shapely form and gracefully arching branches. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which should be used to full effect.

This is a high maintenance shrub that will require regular care and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Grey Owl Juniper is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover

Planting & Growing

Grey Owl Juniper will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 70 years or more.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selection of a native North American species.