Juniperus scopulorum 'Skyrocket' (Skyrocket Juniper)


Michael's Opinion

Once a popular accent plant this cultivar has gone they way of the Dodo, and if not yet extinct it should be as it is very prone to juniper tip blight. Blue arrow is its current substitute.

Botanical Information

FamilyCupressaceae
GenusJuniperus
Speciesscopulorum
Cultivar'Skyrocket'
CategoryWoody
TypeShrub (evergreen)
Pronunciation

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone 3a-7
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness Zone3a-6b
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH7
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)-40
Temperature (°F)-45
Height2-3 m
Spread50-70 cm
GrowthFast

Description and Growing Information

General DescriptionThis tree is very narrow only getting to be about 70 cm wide; blue grey foliage, very stately with a tight form.
ID CharacteristicVery narrow, dense shrub that is possibly one of the most-narrow cultivars on the market, you can’t miss it, very columnar. It is blue-green in colour, with red brown bark.
ShapeVery narrow, columnar.
PropagationRoots easily from cuttings, taken between May and August if you must.
CultivationGrows well in full sun to light shade. Does very well in dry conditions; handles moist conditions. Tolerant to pollution, slope, wind, rabbits, and drought. Very tolerant to cold. Little maintenance needed. Tie in the winter to prevent snow damage.
PestsSusceptible to juniper scale, webworm, mites, and twig blight, with twig blight being problematic, on clipped specimens.
HabitatHorticultural origin.
Bark/Stem DescriptionRed brown in colour, slightly shredding with small fissures.
Leaf DescriptionOpposite arrangement along the stem with appressed scale like foliage that is soft to touch. Blue-grey-green in colour that stands out and in slightly brighter is the spring.
Flower DescriptionMonoecious or dioecious; male has 6 stamens.
Fruit DescriptionA sterile cultivar.
Colour DescriptionBlue-grey-green foliage, that is slightly brighter in the spring. Bark is red-brown in colour
Texture DescriptionFine to medium.

Photographs