Juniperus squamata Meyeri

Juniperus squamata 'Meyeri' is a very beautiful blue-tinted scaly juniper, with a very bushy habit and moderate growth, well-suited for medium-sized or larger gardens. The uniqueness of this conifer lies in the architecture of its branches, composed of upright branches that gracefully curve at their tips, giving the whole plant a feathery and blue-silver appearance. In cold weather, in autumn and winter, the shrub gradually takes on shades of grey-purple, which adds a beautiful effect to the flowerless private garden. 'Meyeri' is attractive throughout the year and particularly ornamental when placed as a specimen. It will also appeal to bonsai enthusiasts. 

The scaly juniper, also known as the Nepalese juniper, gets its name from its old needles that it retains at the base of the branches. It is an evergreen species native to the mountains of the Himalayas and China, at an altitude between 1600 and 4900 metres (5249 feet and 16076 feet). It is a montane conifer with great hardiness (down to -30°C (-22 °F)) and not very demanding in terms of soil, although it does not tolerate excessively hot and dry climates. Like all junipers, it belongs to the Cupressaceae family.

'Meyeri' reaches 2 metres (6 feet 7 inches) in all directions at the age of 10 and has a very spreading silhouette in its young age. However, when mature, it forms a rounded bush 5 metres (16 feet 5 inches) tall and 3 metres (9 feet 10 inches) wide, with a dense and bushy habit. It grows rapidly when young, then slows down a bit as it ages. Its upright branches, at a 60° (140 °F) angle, have a feathery appearance and are completely covered with short, rigid twigs, adorned with small, tightly packed and imbricate leaves. The glaucous and pale foliage appears almost grey-blue, while the lighter young shoots are very silvery. Junipers have a shallow root system, which sometimes makes them difficult to associate with perennials.

The 'Meyeri' juniper is an undemanding conifer, easy to grow as long as the soil remains fairly moist and it is placed in a sunny location. It is preferably planted as a specimen, or near a wall, or in proximity to a swimming pool, as it blends well with geometric lines and masonry structures. A few specimens can also be grouped to create a small forest at the corner of a medium-sized garden, for example. The true graphic qualities of conifers naturally come to the fore in the design of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of shapes, silhouettes, and textures over the dance of blooms. These plants, with their reassuring permanence, provide lasting structure to a flower bed, mark pathways, and border terraces, easily replacing the strong presence of trimmed boxwood. They can be combined with tousled grasses and heathers, whose temperament is very complementary. The key is to play with volumes and colours.  

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