Juniperus squamata Floreant

An enchanting rarity, Juniperus squamata Floreant, also known as the Floriant Juniper, is a rare, small conifer with a bushy, compact and round habit, which boasts a magnificent blue-silver foliage variegated with pale yellow or creamy white all year round. Derived from the 'Blue Star' variety, it is even more compact and brighter. This dwarf variety is a real gem for the rock garden or patio. With slow growth, it is a hardy, low maintenance plant. It appreciates dappled sunlight and well-drained soil, even poor and slightly alkaline soil.

The Scaly Juniper, also called the Flaky Juniper, owes its name to its old needles which it keeps under the branches. It is an evergreen species native to the mountains of the Himalayas and China, at an altitude between 1600 to 4900 m (5249 ft to 16076 ft). It is a conifer of great hardiness ,up to -30°C (-22°F) and is not demanding about soil type. It belongs to the Cypress family.

The 'Floreant' cultivar, also found under the name 'Floriant', forms a small bush after 10 years with a spherical and compact habit, measuring 30 cm (11.8 in) in height with a span of 40 cm (15.7 in). Ultimately, it will reach 45 cm (17.7 in) in height and 90 cm (35.4 in) in diameter. It grows quite quickly when young, at a rate of 7 cm (2.8 in) per year depending on growing conditions, then its growth slows down as it matures. Its branches are completely covered with short, rigid axillary branches, dressed in small, very close-set needle-shaped leaves, in whorls of 3. Its unique foliage is a silver-blue shade, randomly splashed with creamy-white or pale yellow variegation, sometimes tinged with light mauve. In a location sheltered from direct sun, it remains attractive all year round. Junipers have a shallow root system that sometimes makes them difficult to mix with perennials.

Still rarely offered in France, the Floriant juniper is a small conifer that is both magnificent and undemanding. It is easy to grow in a rock garden or a tub on the patio, as long as the soil remains fairly damp and it is positioned out of direct sun. It will also work well near a swimming pool, as its form matches well with geometric lines, without making a mess. The geometric qualities of dwarf conifers naturally mean that they are perfect in the design of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of shapes, silhouettes and textures to a mix of flowers. These plants structurally shape a bed, delineate paths, border a terrace and can easily substitute pruned boxwood. They blend well with shaggy grasses and heathers who like similar planting conditions. The best results are achieved by playing with volume and colour.

Advice: Water regularly during the first two years, and in case of prolonged drought. While it can grow in a soil that is occasionally dry in a cool climate, this conifer will be disappointing in a Mediterranean climate which is too dry and too hot in summer.