Juniperus communis Hibernica Irish Juniper

Juniperus communis Hibernica (syn. with Juniperus communis Stricta. Common Name: Irish Juniper) is a narrow, columnar evergreen conifer with grey-green needles. It’s a good choice for architectural gardens and holds the prestigious RHS AGM.

Juniperus Communis Hibernica is better known as the Irish Juniper. It’s native to the Northern hemisphere and was introduced to the UK in the 1830s before going on to win the RHS Award of Garden Merit in 2002. Irish Juniper is one of the most ornamental conifers and a good and more hardy alternative to the Italian Cypress from the Mediterranean or Juniper Skyrocket because it has the same upright shape that’s smaller at the crown but remains thinner only spreading a half metre in width.

Its soft, grey-green foliage is present all year with new lighter growth emerging in spring on upright branches. This ornamental conifer is dense but delicate enough for small spaces and rockeries. It’s an excellent choice in compact gardens that need height without width.

Height And Spread of Juniperus communis Hibernica
Irish Juniper is a tall and thin conifer that will reach 3 metres tall and just 50 cms in spread over 20-50 years.

How Hardy is Juniperus communis Hibernica
Being native to the northern hemisphere means Irish Juniper is extremely hardy. It will survive minus temperatures if its roots are well-drained and once established it copes well with drought.

How To Use Juniperus communis Hibernica
Irish Juniper is a similar but slightly tougher alternative to Italian pencil cypresses and is perfect for landscaping ornamental Italianate or formal UK gardens.
Its warm green year-round colour is a good way to highlight features such as walkways, garden rooms or pergolas. Alternatively, several can be planted in a row to create a dense and attractive natural screen.
Rockeries suit their drought-proof nature, and their natural resistance to pollution and low temperatures make them a good choice in front gardens and low maintenance spaces too. This is a versatile conifer with lots of colour, texture and shape on offer.

How to Care For Juniperus communis Hibernica
Once established, Irish Juniper needs very little attention. It will grow in the majority of soils that are not waterlogged including chalk and clay soils. It does prefer a sunny spot but will cope with partial shade too.
One of this conifer’s best attributes is its natural growth habit that doesn’t require pruning. It naturally grows tall and thin, but you can remove wayward branches in winter if necessary.
A thick layer of mulch in early spring will help boost its health and it will need plenty of water until it’s established.