Miniature Garden Library
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Please visit our store Not all plants are available at all times. At right, Compress Juniper (Juniperus communis 'Compressa') planted with a variegated thyme for a full-sun miniature garden party. |
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DWARF JUNIPERS - JUNIPERUSJunipers are one of the most versatile conifers we use for miniature gardening as there is one for almost every garden setting. These reliable trees come in range of growth habits, colors and sizes. For example, the Compress Common Juniper (Juniper communis 'Compressa') is a slender upright tree and the Mother Lode Juniper (Juniper horizontalis 'Mother Lode'), can be used as a shrub or a tree on 1/4" or HO scale. Scroll down to see the range of junipers that can be used. In cooler climates, the junipers grow best in full sun and will tolerate some light shade. In warmer climates they will prefer part shade. They are not fussy about soil either – but it should drain well. If the soil is heavier, watch to avoid over watering. Junipers are cold-hardy, well behaved, low maintenance, and a pleasure to grow and they don't mind a little pruning. Remember to water in the dry months if they are planted in a container. Varieties for miniature gardening: Blue Pygmy Juniper - Juniperus horizontalis ‘Blue Pygmy’ Blue Star Juniper - Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’ Compress Common Juniper - Juniperus communis 'Compressa' Daub's Frosted Chinese Juniper - Juniperus chinensis 'Daub's Frosted' Gold Cone Juniper - Juniperus communis 'Gold Cone' Gold Fever Juniper - Juniperus horizontalis ‘Gold Fever’ Mother Lode Juniper - Juniperus horizontalis 'Mother Lode' |
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Daub's Frosted Chinese Juniper - Juniperus chinensis 'Daub's Frosted'A very sweet addition to your miniature or railroad garden! The new growth on Daub's Frosted is rich golden yellow that pleasantly contrasts with the gray-green older foliage as it moves towards the center of the tree on the individual branches. Delicate and airy looking, this little tree is cold-hardy and can be pruned. A new addition to the Two Green Thumbs inventory. |
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Pot
is 4" in diameter. Click to enlarge. Daub's Frosted Item #: JCDF1 |
Light Needs: Full sun. Water Needs: Regular - let dry out in between waterings Hardiness: -30º to -20ºF Average Growth Rate: 2" to 4" per year Shape: Spreading Recommended Zone: 4 Pronunciation: Ju-ni-PER-us calm-MEW-niss 'Dobbs Frosted' Recommended color pairing: gray-greens, pinks, reddish-greens, grays and yellows |
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Compress Common Juniper - Juniperus communis 'Compressa'A lovely conifer that can lend itself to a variety of miniature garden styles: formal, casual, alpine or elegant. The tall, compressed, column shape can be used in multiples to create a back drop, a miniature wall or to line a winding driveway in a larger scale garden. Pleasantly well-behaved and slow-growing. Protect from extreme weather and provide good drainage in containers and in-ground. |
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Pot
is 4" in diameter. Click to enlarge. Compress Item #: JCCP1 |
Light Needs: Full sun. Water Needs: Regular - let dry out in between waterings. Hardiness: -30º to -20ºF Average Growth Rate: 2" to 4" per year Shape: Upright Narrow Recommended Zone: 4 Pronunciation: Ju-ni-PER-us calm-MEW-niss comPRESSa Recommended color pairing: gray-greens, pinks, reddy-greens, grays |
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Gold Cone Juniper - Juniperus communis 'Gold Cone'The Gold Cone Juniper is really fun to grow. The new needles flush out golden-yellow on reddish-brown stems on top of the golden-green foliage - then it turns to bright, golden yellow in the spring and summer. Although a little faster growing, the Gold Cone can be sheared to help keep its shape. Good in larger miniature gardens and railroad gardens. New to the Two Green Thumbs inventory. |
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Pot
is 4" in diameter. Click to enlarge. Gold Cone Item #: JCGC1 |
Light Needs: Full sun Water Needs: Regular - let dry out in between waterings Hardiness: -30º to -20ºF Average Growth Rate: 3" to 6" per year Shape: Upright Narrow Recommended Zone: 4 Pronunciation: Ju-ni-PER-us calm-MEW-niss 'Gold Cone' Recommended color pairing: light or dark greens, yellows |
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Gold fever Juniper - Juniperus horizontalis ‘Gold Fever’Gold Fever is a colorful selection for your miniature garden setting. The soft, new foliage is a wonderful, vivid yellow color that contrasts nicely with the more mature, chartreuse shade further inside the branches. It has low-spreading growth habit is appreciated in early spring when its color shines in the garden as the tips take on more of an amber hue. The color is dependent on placement, as Gold Fever does not like that hot summer sun in the afternoons. It’s best in a cool sun location or with a little shade in the late afternoon. It comes from a seedling selection from ‘Mother Lode’. |
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Pot
is 4" in diameter. Click to enlarge. Gold Fever Item #: JCGC1 |
Light Needs: Full or part sun – avoid the hot summertime sun, it may scorch the plant. Water Needs: Regular - let dry out a little in between waterings. Hardiness: -40º to -30ºF Average Growth Rate: 2" to 4" per year Shape: spreading / prostrate, 3 to 5" tall Recommended Zone: 3 Pronunciation: Ju-ni-PER-us hor-i-zon-TAL-lis ‘Gold Fever’ Recommended color pairing: light or dark greens, yellows and pinks |
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Blue Pygmy Juniper - Juniperus horizontalis ‘Blue Pygmy’A true miniature juniper! Blue Pygmy is a new addition to the Two Green Thumbs inventory and appears to be a new addition to the plant world too. Mixed sources reveal the growth habit to be a slow spreading mound of minute blue green leaves. The congested compact shrub has new growth that is smooth and round on mature branches that are sharp ‘awl-shaped’ needles. The foliage is a bright silver-blue in summer. Discovered in Germany about 1990. An ideal plant for any miniature setting. |
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Pot
is 4" in diameter. Click to enlarge. Blue Pygmy Item #: JHBP1 |
Light Needs: Full or part sun. Water Needs: Regular water if in well drained soil / full sun / warmer climate. Less in cooler areas or heavier soils. Avoid over watering. Hardiness: -30º to -20ºF Average Growth Rate: Less than 1" per year Shape: Spreading Recommended Zone: 4 Pronunciation: Ju-ni-PER-us hor-i-zon-TAL-lis 'Blue PIG-me Recommended color pairing: Grays, silvers, pinks. |
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Blue Star Juniper - Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’The Blue Star Juniper can be a valuable tree when looking at it from a miniaturist’s perspective. It’s nodding branches can look like a wind-swept tree as seen on ocean shores and beaches – and the silver, blue color lends itself to the beach theme, too. The tree gets bushier over time and will grow slowly into a mound. The short branches mimic a star shape. Blue Star is adaptable to a wide range of climates as it is hardy from zones 4 through 9 (-30º to 30ºF) but will do better in cooler, drier areas. Purported to be the best dwarf conifer and widely popular among gardeners. |
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Pot
is 4" in diameter. Click to enlarge. Blue Star Item #: JSBS1 |
Light Needs: Full sun. Water Needs: Regular - let dry out in between waterings. Provide good drainage. Hardiness: -30º to -20ºF Average Growth Rate: 2" to 4" per year Shape: Spreading Recommended Zone: 4 Pronunciation: Ju-ni-PER-us skwa-MAT-tah ‘Blue Star’ Recommended color pairing: blue greens, gray greens, pinks and whites. |
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Mother Lode Juniper - Juniperus horizontalis 'Mother Lode'This Juniper is a little faster growing than most but it's wonderful color changes are worth a little pruning now and again. In the summer, it's a bright yellow that tapers down to a gray-green towards the inside of the plant. By late autumn, it changes to a deep yellow-orange color tinged with plum colored tips by winter. Hardy, reliable, and will need some pruning to keep it small. |
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Pot
is 4" in diameter. Click to enlarge. Mother Lode Item #: JHML1 |
Light Needs: Full or part sun. Water Needs: Regular - let dry out a little in between waterings. Hardiness: -30º to -20ºF Average Growth Rate: 2" to 4" per year Shape: Flat / prostrate, 3 to 5" tall Recommended Zone: 3 Pronunciation: Ju-ni-PER-us hor-i-zon-TAL-lis 'Mother Load' Recommended color pairing: light or dark greens, yellows |
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