A Grower Perspective

There are some pretty negative opinions about junipers out there. Some people might hear the word “juniper” and run away, screaming. What these running, screaming people may not know is that the juniper family is a widely diverse group that includes ground covers, shrubs and trees of all kinds of color, growth habit and landscaping applications. They also might not know that there are some truly beautiful specimens in the juniper family, one of which is ‘Wichita Blue.’ With proper site selection, junipers can reward you with years of care-free beauty. The two most important items for site selection: full sun and well-drained soil. In the Pacific Northwest, this juniper needs full sun to thrive. It will tolerate light shade, and in hotter climates, it appreciates more shade. The other essential, well-drained soil, will ensure success with this juniper.

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Here we have an evergreen fern with lacy, delicate fronds that emerge from the base and fan out from a central rosette. It is a low-maintenance plant that asks very little from you: full shade and in moist, well-drained soil. If you like a neat appearance, you can cut the dead fronds in the early spring, or, if you like a rustic, woodland look, you can leave them for natural mulch.

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An oft-requested plant: an evergreen shrub that looks attractive year-round and is highly adaptable, thriving in the deep shade or hot sun. To answer your question, vaccinium ovatum would respond “I’m your huckleberry.”

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What to say about the Japanese Holly Fern? It seems too obvious to mention that the leaves closely resemble holly leaves. But they do, and they are beautiful and not the least bit sharp.

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Our native shore pine is a sturdy, adaptable, compact tree. I’m sure you’ve seen the wind blown version of this plant on the coast. Grass green three inch long needles in bundles of two cover this particular tree. In youth it grows in a random way and as it matures it grows into a tighter form eventually reaching twenty feet or more. This attractive tree has grown in two of my gardens, one city one country. Size wise it fits very well into city gardens and can be pruned as needed. In a larger setting it grows well amongst larger trees, evergreen and deciduous, as well as a backdrop tree for shrubs and perennials. It adapts to all soil and water conditions (except standing water year round). Additionally this is a very good wildlife tree providing nesting sites and forage for woodpeckers, chickadees, bushtits and chipmunks. Can be planted as a hedge or integrated in the garden. Pinus contorta blends well with native plants as well as other landscape plants. The shore pine will fill a need for a smaller evergreen able to thrive in many conditions, a choice and desirable tree. Grows 20’ to 35’ tall and wide. Plant in full sun or partial shade.

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