Juniper Virginia is a “native” of North America, assigned to the Cypress family. This is a coniferous evergreen plant that prefers rocky places. To date, the plant is represented by several decorative varieties that take root quite well on the territory of our country. In total, about 70 plant varieties are isolated.
Botanical Description
Juniper Virginia is a shrub. Both monoecious and dioecious plants are found. In height, the bush can reach 30 meters, with a trunk thickness of 150 centimeters.
The needles of the bush have a dark green color. It is very shallow, not more than 2 millimeters, scaly.
From the first year of life, cones and berries appear on the shrub, which give the plant an unusually attractive aesthetic appearance. In the process of ripening, the fruits become almost black with a clearly noticeable bluish bloom.
Juniper is considered a long-liver, it can grow for 500 years.
Varietal variety
Juniper Virginia is represented in our latitudes by several species, namely:
- Gray Owl, with a maximum height of 4 meters, but on average it often barely reaches 1 meter. In the process of growth, forms a multi-tiered crown. The variety tolerates both drought and frost.
- Glauca, with a spreading crown, capable of stretching up to 4 meters in 10 years of life. But the older the plant becomes, the less attractive it is. In winter, the needles acquire a purple hue.
- Juniper Virginian Hetz. A variety that tolerates cold, heat, is not afraid of direct sunlight and is undemanding to soil.
- Skyrocket Virginia. A distinctive feature of the variety is the ability to grow in the shade. It has soft needles, which in winter becomes brown.
- Canaertii. The variety grows in areas with a warm climate and has a loose crown.
- Golden Spring. It is a unique and crossed variety from several different species. It does not grow above 50 centimeters, but the trunk can reach a diameter of 1.5 meters.
Juniper Virginia Hetz: variety description
This is a vertical type of shrub that has a sprawling shape. In height, it can reach 2 meters with a width of 3 meters. Obtained by crossing Chinese and Cossack varieties. Compared to other varieties, it is considered fast-growing.
The needles have a bluish-gray hue, and in winter they can turn brown. The fruits are dark blue.
The shrub does not like shade, it may even lose its natural color. It grows well in partial shade and in direct sunlight.
Hetz Virginia Juniper does not require special soil, but it cannot be tamped, it must be loose. In winter, it is recommended to bind the branches, since they are quite fragile and can break under the weight of snow. Ideal for creating hedges.
But the main distinguishing feature of the shrub is abundant fruiting and a wonderful aroma.
Juniper Virgin Hetz Variegata: Description
Another interesting variety that grows quickly and takes root well in central Russia. For a year, the plant adds 20 centimeters in growth, that is, by 10 years the bush will stretch to 1 meter. It tolerates urban conditions, does not require special soil. It tolerates drought and frost equally well, up to -34 degrees. It tolerates a haircut, but not a transplant.
The needles have a greenish-bluish tint with very rare specks of cream. It has a conical shape and a dense crown, which is ideal for regular gardens and hedges.
Grade Benefits
Hetz Virginia Juniper has many advantages in comparison with other varieties, but the most important is the beauty and decorativeness of the bush.
Other benefits include:
- Undemanding in the choice of soil and watering.
- Good adaptability to urban conditions.
- It has a high degree of resistance to pests, cold and heat.
- Soon begins to bear fruit.
- Compared with most plants - representatives of the Cypress, it grows quite quickly.
- Possibility of reproduction by grafting, seed method and by cuttings.
- It tolerates a haircut and maintains its shape for a long time.
Landing rules
Hetz Virginia Juniperus is best purchased in containers, as young seedlings are ready for planting and will quickly begin to grow. It is best to plant a bush in April, May or October, but be sure to immediately to the place where it will grow constantly. If the plant has a closed root system, then it can be planted in open ground at almost any time of the year, naturally not in winter.
The plant must be planted with the earthen lump with which it is sold. It is best to place bushes in well-lit areas. The main thing is to immediately create a composition, since transplanting juniper is not recommended.
If the earth is heavy and / or clay, then peat, sand or ordinary garden soil should be put in the pit. It is preliminary recommended to carry out soil drainage. This is done very simply - broken brick, sand is laid at the bottom of the pit.
Feeding and watering
Sometimes in the photo, Virginia Hetz does not look very attractive. It is possible that the reason lies in improper care. When the bush is still young, it needs moderate watering, but it should be carried out regularly. When the plant grows, watering is no longer required; the juniper tolerates drought well. If the heat has settled and lasts quite a long time, then the bush can be sprayed, but only in the evening or early in the morning, then it will not lose its decorative appeal.
It is recommended in the spring (April to May) to apply a small amount of nitroammophoskos to the ground in a proportion of 30-40 grams per 1 square meter.
Pruning rules
According to reviews of the Hetz virgin juniper, the plant is very beautiful and does not require pruning at all. Nevertheless, if you want to form a hedge, then you can not do without such events. When cutting a plant, remember that it retains its shape for a long time, so each mistake will “disturb” the look.
Naturally, sanitization should be carried out regularly, remove the extended ends of the branches, thin out.
Winter care
Many gardeners use snow as a shelter, but this method is only suitable for small, young shrubs. If the plant is already tall or winters are not snowy, then it is better to make a protective frame. As a shelter, you can use non-woven fabric, for example, kraft paper, which is stacked in a double layer. The main thing is that the lower part of the crown is open.
Planting and care of the Virgin Hetz juniper involves sheltering bushes from February to March. The plant is quite difficult to tolerate severe changes in the winter-spring period. Often the nights are cold in the spring, and during the day the sun warms up strongly, burning the crown of the plant. Daytime burns can cause a change in the color of the crown, it becomes brownish-yellow, and this already reduces the decorative appeal.
Breeding
Own reproduction of juniper is considered an amateur occupation, since you can buy any variety in any specialized store. Nevertheless, people who like to create everything with their own hands should know that a plant can be propagated in three ways.
Cuttings. Cuttings should be cut in the spring, choosing young, but already lignified shoots. Their length should be from 5 to 7 centimeters, and the internode is not less than 2. The main thing is that the stalk cannot be cut off, it must be torn off with a guy line so that the heel remains.
The severed stem should be treated immediately with a root stimulant and planted in the ground with:
All components are folded in equal parts. Top soil is sprinkled with coarse sand, and the handle itself is covered with a jar of glass. By autumn, roots should already appear.
Vaccinations. This method, as a rule, is used only if it is necessary to propagate a particularly valuable variety. Follow the standard procedure, but as practice shows, this method is not popular among gardeners, as juniper survival at a very low level.
Seed method. Typically, they are cold-treated before planting the seeds. After it, the plant rises for 4-5 months. If this is not done, then the first sprouts will appear only after 12 months. Seedlings can be planted in a permanent place only for 3 years after climbing, that is, the procedure involves a huge reserve of patience.
Disease
Most often, the juniper suffers from a fungal disease, which manifests itself in the form of spindle-shaped thickenings, swelling, sagging. The drying out of the bark is clearly manifested, on the branches of the needles it acquires a brown color. To cope with the problem, it is necessary to remove all the affected branches, to disinfect the wounds using copper sulfate or garden var. Remember to burn damaged branches.
The rules for planting, care and breeding are equally suitable for the varieties of Virginia juniper Hetz Variegata and Hetz.