Maryland Native Plants: Juniperus virginiana ‘Grey Owl’
Juniperus virginiana ‘Grey Owl’
‘Gray Owl’ Juniper
Growing Information
This dwarf cultivar is easily grown in average, dry to moist, well-drained soils and thrives in full sun. It is very tolerante of a wide range of soil moisture conditions and soil types, from swamps to dry rocky glades. It has the best drought resistance of any conifer native to the eastern U.S.
Habit
‘Grey Owl’ is a slow-growing cultivar of Juniperus virginiana, with a compact, wide-spreading habit. It hugs the ground as it grows, making it an interesting option for a groundcover or boundary plant. Its foliage is silver gray. Female plants can produce berry-like cones, which are attractive to birds.
Landscaping Tips
Gray owl juniper is a great option for a low growing, native evergreen with fantastic color. We pair it with bright pink, red or purple plantings and put it near stone work to help complement the color and make the other colors pop. Grey owl juniper is really low maintenance, great for birds and one of the few native evergreens. It can be used as a foundation shrub or in the upper (drier) areas of a rain garden or bioretention. It would work well as a planting around patios, in dry river beds or other landscape beds. It is deer resistant and truly low maintenance in our experience.
Plant Information
Information from Missouri Botanical below
Latin name: Juniperus virginiana ‘Grey Owl’
Common Name: Grey owl juniper
Type: Needled evergreen
Family: Cupressaceae
Zone: 2 to 9
Height: 2.00 to 3.00 feet
Spread: 4.00 to 6.00 feet
Bloom Time: Non-flowering
Bloom Description: Non-flowering
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Hedge
Leaf: Evergreen
Attracts: Birds
Fruit: Showy
Other: Winter Interest
Tolerate: Deer, Drought, Erosion, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil, Black Walnut, Air Pollution