Great year-round color

I was talking with one of my friends in the Mid-West to get his take on a great new Juniper that is thriving in my garden. Rated cold hardy to Zone 4, Juniperus communis ‘Kalebab’ is definitely a conifer to keep an eye out for at your local garden center. In fact, it’s so great, I suggest you talk your garden center folks to get it on their spring order!

Juniperus communis 'Kalebab' - Summer

This Juniper is a broad upright grower with lateral branches that grow out and upward like raised arms. The branchlets then droop off the main branches giving a wonderful effect especially as they sway in the wind. During the spring and summer, ‘Kalebab’ is a healthy yellowish green color. With the cooler temperatures of autumn and winter, the foliage begins to take on a plumb color that turns to an amazing shade of orange. The slightly more protected inner foliage may remain green (perhaps less so in more frigid climates than my own). The winter color really stands out and makes a remarkable show piece in what might otherwise be a dreary winter garden.

Juniperus communis 'Kalebab' - Winter

Here in the Pacific Northwest, even our coldest winter temperatures don’t drop anywhere near as low as my friend endures every year. ‘Kalebab’ thrives in our mild temperatures but I’ve wondered about how well it may hold up in some of the colder regions of the country. In the midst of our conversation, he said, “We’re having a good Zone 4 winter out here this year.” I brought up ‘Kalebab’ and even though he didn’t have experience with this relatively new conifer, he did mention that the low growing Juniperus communis cultivars do very well in his zone, but that some of the upright forms can tend to sunburn during the winter. I suggested that he needed to get a ‘Kalebab’ to grow in his region so we could learn more about this great tree in his harsh winter conditions. Since he is one of the directors of the Bickelhaupt Arboretum in Clinton, Iowa he assured me that he would get a specimen planted there this year.

I hope you’ll give this exciting new conifer a try in your garden. I’m confident that you will not be disappointed with its pleasant form, great year-round color and hardiness for most any garden.

Ed-
Conifer Lover

Reach for the sky

I’ve been sitting next to my nice warm woodstove while enjoying the snow falling outside my large picture window. From where I sit, this unusual snowfall has covered the landscape almost as if giant spoonfuls of whipped cream have been dropped and plopped on all the plants, completely covering the ground. One of my conifers seems to be stretching up and out of that whipped cream coating as if someone had just given it the command, “Reach for the sky!”

Reminiscent of the stately Italian Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), Juniperus communis ‘Compressa’ stands tall and narrow like a marble column in the ancient city of Rome. The one I’m looking at must be 20 years old and it stands approximately eight feet tall with a width of just over a foot.

Unlike the Italian Cypress, ‘Compressa’ is hardy into Zone 4 (-30º F) so I know this is a plant that my friends in the mid-west can also enjoy. When acquired as a young plant, ‘Compressa’ is excellent in the rock garden and very suitable for use in container gardening with groups of miniature conifers and selected annuals or perennials or by itself. Mine is planted in the rockery in well drained soil where it receives a few hours of partial shade. I know that it would also thrive in full sun but may need to be protected from the intense winter winds in the mid-western states.

Worthy of a place in any garden, ‘Compressa’ stands out all season long with its tightly held bluish green foliage, narrow form and apparent desire to reach for the sky.

Ed-
Conifer Lover

 Thanks to Iseli Nursery for the photo links.