Savin Junipers (Juniperus sabina)
Savin Juniper foliage is evergreen. Most types of this shrub have needles that are flat, arranged like scales on the twigs. Their color varies according to the variety. Savin Juniper flowers are inconspicuous little cylindrical cones that ripen into bluish berries late in the first growing season or early the following spring. Sometimes the sexes are in separate bushes, and so only a female shrub bears fruit. These tiny bluish-black Juniper "berries" appear in early August and last until the following April. Savin Juniper varieties make excellent ground covers. The low growing ones are most useful in the residential landscape to control erosion on hillsides or fill in areas where poor soil makes it difficult to grow other shrubs. The taller types serve well as foundation plantings around houses and garages or massed in areas of the property where a screen is desirable. Deer, and large and small mammals as well as songbirds seek out these 3/8th inch berries.
Savin Juniper Choices
A typical low-growing variety like Arcadia and its relative Calgary Carpet grows in a low mound, its horizontal branches reaching to about 1 foot tall and spreading up to 4 feet wide at maturity. Foliage of Arcadia is grass green; others have grayish-green or bluish-green needles. The variety Variegata has white streaked foliage. The more upright Von Ehren grows to 5 feet tall and 5 feet wide. Blue Danube has bluish-green foliage and a semi-upright form at 1 1/2 feet high. Broadmoor is dwarf, low-growing, grayish-green. Buffalo has feathery, bright green foliage that holds color all winter and does well in coastal areas. Scandia grows to 1 1/2 feet tall with pale, gray-green foliage. Tamariscifolia New Blue bears extremely blue foliage in 18-inch high mounds. Von Ehren is more upright, with foliage in varying shades of green.
