Scaly juniper

Evergreen, dioecious, densely branched shrub up to 1.3 - 1.5 m high. Bark dark brown.Foliage lanceolate, very stiff and sharp, 0.5 - 0.8 cm long, dark green on the underside and white above thanks to stomatal bands, arranged in whorls of 3. Cones black, shiny, mature the following year in spring, in May. Undemanding regarding soil fertility. Drought- and winter-hardy. Propagates well by cuttings (76%).

Shrub, at 22 years height 1.1 m, crown diameter 120 cm. Vegetative period from May 12 ± 10 days. Annual increment 0.5 cm, rarely 2-3 cm. Does not produce much pollen. Winter hardiness medium. Germination of seeds obtained by delectus is 24%. 60% of winter cuttings root without treatment. Does not suffer from heat and dry air.

In cultivation known since 1824. In ornamental value not inferior to other low-growing junipers, there are many garden forms.

The most popular forms are:

"Blue Carpet" ("Blue Carpet"). A dwarf mutant of juniper "Meyeri". A creeping shrub. Height - 30 cm, width - up to 1.5 m. Crown completely flat. Foliage needle-like, bluish-white in color. Propagated by cuttings (48%). A valuable groundcover plant. The form was developed in the Netherlands in 1972, in the nursery of Jak Shomaker in Boskoop, where in 1976 it received a gold medal for high ornamental qualities. Recommended for planting in sunny and semi-shaded locations. Suitable for cultivation in containers on roofs, streets, and rocky sites.

"Blue Star" ("Blue Star"). A dwarf shrub up to 1 m high with a crown diameter of 1.5-2 m. Grows slowly. Light-loving, frost-hardy. Undemanding to soils, but does not tolerate strong salinity and waterlogging. Recommended for solitary and group plantings, as well as for borders, rock gardens and slopes.

"Meyeri"("Meyeri"). A widely known and especially beloved by gardeners ornamental form. In youth it branches quite densely. At maturity this is a shrub 2 - 5 m tall. Shoots straight, twigs short. Foliage coloration bluish-white, most intense at the end of May and in July. Annual growth up to 10 cm. Propagated by cuttings, seeds. Only 30% of seed-origin plants have a more spreading crown and glaucous foliage. Introduced to Europe in 1904. Recommended for greening roofs and rock gardens.