Juniper Tree (JUNIPERUS SCOPULORUM) - 'MOONGLOW' Juniper
'Moonglow' is a very columnar tree with upright, bright, bluish green, needle-like foliage. Many landscapers enjoy it as an accent, combination, or screen planting thanks to it's neat and tidy upright growth. It has slightly blue cast, scale-like needles and the foliage serves as a pleasing contrast to other garden colors. It's branches ascend vertically contributing to the trees overall pyramidal shape. The bark of a 'Moonglow' Juniper is typically reddish brown, but can turn gray over time and exfoliates into thin strips which gives it somewhat of a shredded appearance. It is an easy specimen to grow.
Standing at 20' tall and 5-8' wide, 'Moonglow' has a neat and tidy, columnar growth habit. As a cultivar of Rocky mountain juniper, it is cold hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 3 and is very durable. Rocky Mountain Junipers are listed as a selection in the University of Wyoming "Conservation Trees & Shrubs For Wyoming" guide. This variety does best in cool climates and can tolerate a wide range of site and soil types, other than wet sites. It requires full sun for best blue color development and is extremely drought tolerant. Requires no pruning, but will handle it fine if it is clipped and, like most Junipers, is relatively free of insects and diseases. 'Moonglow' Junipers require very little water, but should be watered two to three times per week for the first month after being planted. Continue to monitor throughout the first year by using a trowel to uncover the first two or three inches of soil and checking moisture levels. Once established for a year, fertilize once in early spring (around April) and again in late summer (September) with a slow-release granular fertilizer with an NPK of 16-4-8 or 12-4-8. Junipers can be used in xeriscaping for water wise plantings.