Trautman Chinese Juniper

The Trautman Chinese Juniper is a slender, upright evergreen that grows to 6 feet in height, while remaining just a foot or two wide. It will ultimately reach and even pass 12 feet, but it will stay narrow, with mature trees growing no more than 4 feet across. The branches grow upright, and they are densely covered in coral-like foliage, of a rich blue-green color. New shoots are silvery. This tree produces a heavy crop of berries that are dusty blue, and the look of a tree with berries is very striking. Grow this plant as a vertical accent anywhere, as a slender screen, on slopes and among rocks. It is perfect for Asian-style gardens, where it can be trimmed and trained into exotic forms.

• Strong vertical accent that needs no trimming
• Dramatic blue-green foliage in coral-like clusters
• Big crop of blue-gray juniper berries
• Resistant to disease, rabbits and deer
• A cold-zone substitute for Italian Cypress

Full sun is best for the Trautman Chinese Juniper, and it will grow in any well-drained soil. That includes rocky and sandy soils, and thin urban soils too. Avoid wet areas and it will thrive. Pests and diseases are not problems, and it has specific resistance to Phomopsis blight. Deer and rabbits leave it alone, and it is untroubled by salt and air pollution.