Irish Juniper Juniperus communis 'Hibernica'
- Phonetic Spelling
- jew-NIP-er-us KOM-yoo-nis
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Irish juniper or 'Hibernica' is a large, needled, evergreen shrub, cultivar of 'Juniperus communis' in the Cupressaceae (cypress) family. It grows as a dense, upright narrow column that becomes broader and conical with age from 5 to 15 feet tall and 2 to 4 feet wide. The branch tips are stiff and erect. Confers do not bear flowers, but the short needles are tightly crowded on the twig, 3 at a whorl, and fleshy seed cones, bluish and berry-like, create a winter interest. Male and female cones are produced on separate plants. Female plants produce 1/2 inch wide, fleshy, fruit-like seed cones commonly referred to as juniper berries. The plant is low maintenance and requires little to no pruning.
Plant in the full sun in well drained soil. It is resistant to drought once established and is not often browsed by deer. Irish Juniper does well in sandy, loamy, and clay soils, but prefers medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun. It will tolerate heavy clay, nutritionally poor soils, and very acid and very alkaline soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). Established plants tolerate cold temperatures as well as heat and humidity.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:
Insects that may damage this juniper include bagworms, webworms, and scale. Blight and rust issues are common on junipers
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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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Juniperus
- Species:
- communis
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds feed on berries.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Columnar
- Conical
- Dense
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Blue
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- No fruits, cones. Fleshy seed cones are bluish and berry-like. On female plants, cones emerge green but gradually ripen by fall to a waxy dark blue to black. Each cone usually contains two or three seeds and ripens in the 2nd or 3rd year.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Prickly
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Shape:
- Acicular
- Subulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Bluish-green foliage with a silver band. Dull blue-green when young.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Bark Description:
- Exfoliating bark is often an attractive reddish-brown.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Vertical Spaces
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Salt
