Pyramidalis Juniper

Pyramidalis Juniper (Juniperus chinensis 'Pyramidalis') is the narrow blue green column for gardens that need height without width. It reaches about 5m tall and only 1.5m across, taking ten to fifteen years to get there in a home garden. Dense foliage runs right to the ground, so a row screens a boundary without the bare legs that catch out many conifers.

Why you'll love it

• Tall and narrow by nature. Roughly 5m by 1.5m, so it screens an upstairs window from a bed barely wider than a path.
• Formal shape without constant work. The upright pyramid holds itself. Clip it for crisp edges, or leave it alone.
• Built for exposed sites. Wind tolerant, salt tolerant and frost hardy, a rare combination for a cold, windy or coastal block.
• Evergreen and drought tolerant. The blue green foliage holds its colour through winter, and established plants ask for very little water.

Where it works best

Screening and privacy. Plant 1m apart in a single row for a dense narrow screen. At that spacing the columns knit together within a few seasons while keeping their individual outline.

Windbreaks. A staggered double row at 1m spacing filters wind rather than blocking it, which is what an exposed rural or coastal block actually needs.

Feature planting and topiary. Single plants stand well as a matched pair at an entry, and the tight growth takes shearing into cones and spirals.

Growing Pyramidalis Juniper in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, always. Shade thins the foliage and spoils the shape. This is a plant for cool temperate, warm temperate, Mediterranean and arid gardens, so Melbourne, Adelaide, Canberra, Perth, the tablelands and inland districts all suit it. It is not the pick for the humid subtropics or wet tropics, where fungal problems take hold in the dense interior.

Soil. Any free draining soil, including sand, gravel and shallow poor ground. Drainage is the one thing it will not compromise on. On heavy clay, plant on a raised mound.

Water and feed. Deep water weekly through the first two summers, then only in extended dry spells. A light complete slow release fertiliser in early spring is enough, and overfeeding gives loose, floppy growth.

Pruning. Trim in late spring or early autumn, taking only the soft outer growth. Junipers do not reliably reshoot from bare old wood, so never cut back past the green. Wear gloves, because the foliage is genuinely prickly.

What to expect when it arrives

This one is grown in tube stock only, and it is currently listed on backorder, so check the product page for the next availability date before planning a planting day. Tubes arrive as young single leader plants around ankle height, with the column shape already showing.

Tube stock is the value way to plant a long boundary, and juniper transplants well at this size. Be realistic about the timeline: two to three years before it reads as a screen, closer to a decade for full height. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Growing and maintaining conifers.
• Browse the full conifer range.
• Tall and narrow screening plants for other options in a slim bed.
• Plants for windbreaks if the site is exposed.

Common questions

How far apart should I plant it for a screen?

One metre apart in a single row. Any tighter and the inner faces shade each other out and thin, which shows as brown patches once the plants touch.

How fast does it grow?

Around 30 to 40cm a year once the roots are away, faster in warm seasons with regular water. It reaches its mature 5m over ten to fifteen years, so it is a plant to start early.

Can I cut it back if it gets too wide?

Only into green growth. Junipers rarely reshoot from bare brown wood, so trim little and often rather than cutting hard once and hoping.