Common Juniper 'Suecica Aurea'

Common juniper 'Suecica Aurea' (Juniperus communis 'Suecica Aurea') is a golden exclamation mark with real architecture. The narrow columnar crown holds its shape for life, the tips of the outer shoots nod slightly, and the young growth burns golden-yellow against grey-green needles.

Use that silhouette wherever a planting lacks a vertical: as an accent among low conifers, in a row along a path, in a gravel garden. It wants full sun, is content with poor stony soil and takes frost to -45 °C, though it copes badly with heat and humid air.

Key characteristics:

• What makes it special: Deer pass this juniper by, it puts up with city air, and it even tolerates growing near black walnut, where most plants fail.
• Hardiness: Exceptional hardiness - it withstands -45 °C (USDA zone 2).
• Light: It is happiest in full sun.
• Soil: It takes evenly moist, well-drained soil readily, and copes even with very poor and stony, limy or slightly acid ground.
• Watering: Moderate watering, and once established the plants stand drought well.
• Care: Care is minimal; just keep an eye out for mites, scale insects and the occasional shoot dieback.
• Landscape use: An evergreen accent and a slender vertical in a planting; the species is also readily naturalised.