Juniperus scopulorum 'Skyrocket'
The Skyrocket Juniper is one
of the most popular fastigiate junipers for growing in
gardens everywhere in the temperate world.
'Skyrocket' has a narrowly
fastigiate form, and is probably the most upright and
narrow of any conifer, possibly with the exception of
Cupressus sempervirens 'Totem Pole'. The Skyrocket juniper
has almost thread-like foliage of a mid-grey colour, but
unless grown in perfect conditions some of the central
trunk is usually displayed due to the thinness and sparseness
of the foliage.
Because of this fault in 'Skyrocket'
it has these days been superseded by similar but rather
more densely furnished scopulorum forms, such as 'Blue
Arrow', at least in England.
As a result of its narrow,
upright shape, the Skyrocket juniper makes a very dramatic
and striking contrast with low growing plants, or conifers
whose foliage grows horizontally, such as Juniperus x
media 'Gold Star' (syn. Juniperus chinensis 'Gold Star').
This dramatic effect can be very useful, but it does not
have a restful effect upon the eye, so it depends upon
what type of garden it is used in and the overall effect
The name 'Skyrocket' strikes
me as a little odd, the word 'sky' seeming superflous.
In shape and form the plant resembles the exhaust flame
from a rocket engine rather more than the shape of the
rocket engine itself, I would say, or at least an upside-down
rocket exhaust flame.
In general the Skyrocket juniper
should be grown in free-draining soil, and does well in
poor or impoverished soils. It will not tolerate boggy
or water-logged soils but will grow in alkaline or acidic
soils. It needs an open, sunny aspect with plenty of light.
To grow well and look good this variety should not be
starved of nutrients.
Use in the Garden
Skyrocket associates well with
low-growing plants such as heathers, groundcover shrubs
and similar plants. However, the Skyrocket juniper is
also effective in a contemporary garden with grey-leaved
plants such as cotton lavender and french lavender, for
example, thymes and cistus. Try planting a group of Skyrocket
of slightly different heights.
Other alternatives for a
narrow fastigiate effect:
Cupressus sempervirens 'Totem
Pole' (dark green), Cupressus sempervirens 'Swanes Gold'
and the like (yellow), Juniperus communis 'Hibernica'
(silvery-green) and Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Columnaris'
(blue-grey). A miniature column suitable for an alpine
garden or container is Juniperus communis 'Compressa'.
are Juniper trees?
Scientific rundown of what junipers are.
in Your Garden Design
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errors' but use these fine plants to their full advantage.
How to grow Junipers
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The cultivational requirements of juniper plants.
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