Noah's Ark juniper Juniperus communis 'Compressa'
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- jew-NIP-er-us KOM-yoo-nis
- Description
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Juniperus communis or common juniper does it all. As well as being cold tolerant, it is also heat and humidity tolerant, making it the most widely growing conifer in the world; native as far north as the Arctic Circle and as far south as North Carolina, and across Europe through Asia. It grows best in full sun with medium moisture.
Although it typically grows as an erect, multi-stemmed shrub up to 3' in height, its location will affect its growth pattern. In harsh conditions, it can grow as a low-growing, spreading plant up to 12" tall. In other conditions, it can grow more resembling a tree with a height of up to 45'.
Seeds/berries from the juniper have a variety of uses, one being the dominant flavoring of gin.
'Compressa' is a dwarf, dense, erect, cone-shaped shrub with branches that are narrowly upright. Its silvery-blue foliage can be somewhat prickly. This dense evergreen will mature to a height of 2-6' and a narrow spread of 1-1.5'.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Juniper blight can be a major issue. Cedar apple rust and wilt are less serious. Mites, borers, scale, and bagworms are some insects that may affect the health of this plant. See the "Pests of Conifers" fact sheet to the left.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common juniper diseases and insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Juniperus
- Species:
- communis
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Edibility:
- The fruit is edible.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Columnar
- Dense
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Prickles
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Very Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Blue
- Green
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Although there are no true fruits, female plants will produce 1/2" green seed cones which are "berry looking" (juniper berries). These will ripen to a dark-blue/black color. and are edible.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- As a conifer, there are not true flowers. But there are small yellow blooms which are not significant in appearance, and on female plants they are followed by 1/2" seed cones.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves grow in whorls of 3. In the fall they have a copper color.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Small Tree
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Erosion
- Pollution
