(Image credit: skymoon13)
The sub-zero winters and short summers of USDA plant hardiness zone 3 present a real challenge for gardeners, but cold hardy juniper plants make the job easier. Choosing hardy junipers is easy too, because many junipers grow in zones 3 and a few are even tougher!
Growing Junipers in Zone 3 Gardens
Once established, junipers are drought tolerant. All prefer full sun, although a few types will tolerate very light shade. Nearly any type of soil is fine as long as it’s well-drained and never soggy. Here’s a list of suitable junipers for zone 3.
Spreading Zone 3 Junipers
- Arcadia – this juniper reaches only 12 to 18 inches (30-45 cm.) and its nice green color and creeping growth makes it a great ground cover in the garden.
- Broadmoor – another ground covering juniper, this one is a bit taller, reaching about 2-3 feet (0.5-1 m.) in height with a 4 to 6 foot (1-2 m.) spread.
- Blue Chip – this low-growing (only 8 to 10 inches (20-25 cm.)), silvery-blue juniper looks great in areas needing quick coverage while adding contrast.
- Alpine Carpet – even smaller at up to 8 inches (20 cm.), Alpine Carpet fills in areas nicely with its 3-foot (1 m.) spread and features an attractive blue-green color.
- Blue Prince – only 6 inches (15 cm.) high with a 3 to 5 feet (1-1.5 m.) spread, this juniper produces a lovely blue color that can’t be beat.
- Blue Creeper – this blue-green variety spreads up to 8 feet (2.5 m.), making it a great choice for larger areas of the garden in need of ground cover.
- Prince of Wales – another great ground covering juniper reaching a mere 6 inches (15 cm.) in height, Prince of Wales has a 3 to 5 feet (1-1.5 m.) spread and offers additional interest with its purplish tinted foliage in winter.
- Old Gold – if you’re tired of the same old green, then this attractive creeping juniper is sure to please, offering somewhat taller (2 to 3 feet), brilliant gold foliage to the landscape scene.
- Blue Rug – another silver-blue type with low growing foliage, this juniper covers up to 8 feet (2.5 m.), having a growth habit much akin to its name.
- Savin – an attractive deep green juniper, this variety reaches anywhere from 2 to 3 feet (0.5-1 m.) tall with a spread of about 3 to 5 feet (1-1.5 m.).
- Skandia – another good choice for zone 3 gardens, Skandia features bright green foliage of about 12 to 18 inches (30-45 cm.).
Upright Junipers for Zone 3
- Medora – this upright juniper reaches heights of about 10 to 12 feet (3-4 m.) with nice blue-green foliage.
- Sutherland – another good juniper for height, this one reaches around 20 feet (6 m.) at maturity and produces a nice silvery-green color.
- Wichita Blue – a great juniper for smaller landscapes, reaching only 12 to 15 feet (4-5 m.) tall, you’ll love its beautiful blue foliage.
- Tolleson’s Blue Weeping - this 20-foot (6 m.) tall juniper produces gracefully arching branches of silvery blue, adding something different to the landscape.
- Cologreen – featuring compact narrow growth, this upright juniper makes a great accent screen or hedge, taking shearing quite well for more formal settings.
- Arnold Common – a slender, conical juniper reaching only 6 to 10 feet (2-3 m.), this one is perfect from creating vertical interest in the garden. It also features feathery, soft green aromatic foliage.
- Moonglow – this 20-foot (6 m.) tall juniper has silvery blue foliage year round with an upright columnar to slightly pyramidal shape.
- Eastern Red Cedar – don’t let the name fool you…this is, in fact, a juniper rather than a cedar as is often mistaken. This 30-foot (10 m.) tree has attractive gray-green foliage.
- Sky High – another name leaving you in wonder, Sky High junipers only reach 12 to 15 feet (4-5 m.) tall, not so high when you think about it. That said, it’s a great choice for the landscape with its attractive silvery blue foliage.