Unique Evergreen Makes Bold Statement

Winter can be a challenge in any garden but by adding interesting evergreens your garden can look good all year long. Juniperus chinensis 'Kaizuka' or Hollywood Juniper can definitely make a statement in your garden. Because of it's unusual growth habit and evergreen foliage Hollywood Juniper is February's Plant of the Month. Come visit the Wilson Arboretum and Botanical Garden at 1806 S. Goldsboro Street.

Chinese junipers in general are large shrubs or tree-like junipers. Most are erect, narrow and conical which make them desirable in the small landscape. Their growth rate is slow to medium.

They grow well in Wilson and have a broad hardiness range (zone 4-9) so they can be planted well to the north and south of Wilson.

They also have attractive gray-brown bark, coming off in thin strips. The bark though is mostly hidden by foliage.

Chinese junipers can be transplanted from balled and burlapped or from a container in moist, well-drained soils. The prefer full sun. They are quite tolerant to a wide range of pH levels, especially of high pH calcareous soils. They can withstand dry soils once established.

The most troublesome disease is a blight (Phomopsis) that can kill young shoots especially in wet springs. But relatively an insect and disease free juniper.

The Hollywood Juniper's foliage is a vivid green. This cultivar is female so can have small cones although I don't ever remember noticing them.

The branches of the plant twist and have a Japanese effect. The branches also grow up in arm like appendages. Hollywood Juniper perhaps gets it's name from being showy and unique like so many other things seen in Hollywood.

'Hollywood' can be grown as a shrub or tree reaching 20-30 feet high. This plant has excellent heat and salt tolerance. So it can be used at the beach.

There are two other forms of Hollywood a blue-green foliage color and a variegated with creamy white markings.

The Wilson Arboretum and Botanical Garden is open daily from sun up until dusk. The Wilson County Master Gardeners will resume phone duty starting Feb. 18 from 1-3 PM Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

The Garden Lunch Club will be held on Wednesday, February 4 at 12:00 noon in Conference Room 1 at the Wilson Ag. Center, 1806 S. Goldsboro Street. Our guest speaker will be Danny Lauderdale on ornamental tree pruning.  This will be a hands on workshop so be prepared to go outdoors and bring your pruning equipment.

Date Created: 2/5/04.