YELLOWSTONE ARBORETUM
" Stewards of the Natural Environment "
Billings, Montana @ ZooMontana
Sea Green Chinese Juniper
Catalogue A# 0098-006 LX9
GPS 45D 43' 46" N / 108D 37' 25" W
Juniperus chinensis 'Sea Green'
Family: Cupressaceae
Origin: China, Mongolia,Japan
Common name: Sea Green Chinese Juniper
Location: Southeast of Wolf Building along path-north side
Number in accession: 9
Curator's note: Prolific growth pattern-healthy 2018, another specimen can be seen at Plaza Junction 0097-023 SG34
Tree or Plant Type: Ground cover, Shrub, Tree
Foliage: Evergreen (foliage year-round)
Native Locale: Non-native
Landscape Uses: Foundation, Hedge, Massing, Mixed border, Screen, Shade tree, Specimen, Utility, Windbreak
Size Range: Large tree (more than 40 feet), Medium tree (25-40 feet), Small tree (15-25 feet), Compact tree (10-15 feet), Large shrub (more than 8 feet), Medium shrub (5-8 feet), Small shrub (3-5 feet), Low-growing shrub (under 3 feet)
Mature Height: 50-60 feet
Mature Width: 15-20 feet
Light Exposure: Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily)
Hardiness Zones: Zone 4, Zone 5 , Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8, Zone 9
Soil Preference: Dry soil, Moist, well-drained soil
Acid Soils: Tolerant
Alkaline Soils: Tolerant
Salt Spray: Tolerant
Soil Salt: Intolerant
Drought Conditions: Tolerant
Poor Drainage: Intolerant
Ornamental Interest: Showy fruit
Season of Interest: Early winter, Mid winter, Late winter, Early spring, Mid spring, Late spring, Early summer, Mid summer, Late summer, Early fall, Mid fall, Late fall
Flower Color & Fragrance: Inconspicuous, Other
Shape or Form: Creeping, Narrow, Oval, Pyramidal, Round, Upright
Growth Rate: Slow
Transplants Well: Yes
Wildlife: Game birds, Game mammals, Small mammals, Songbird
CRITIQUE
Chinese juniper is a durable, adaptable evergreen tree or shrub that can bring year-round color, structure and screening to a dry, alkaline or windy site. Although the species is an erect, conical tree up to 60 feet high and 20 feet wide, a wide variety of cultivated varieties are available for garden and landscape use that range from trees to shrubs down to ground covers. The foliage of scale-like needles is attractive but prickly. In late summer and fall, many junipers have blue-green berry-like fruits, actually modified cones, that attract birds. Junipers are widely used in bonsai, and are rugged and useful landscape plants. Because they are quite salt-tolerant, they can be used near roads, driveways and sidewalks.