Junipers are extremely hardy plants, tolerant of heat, poor soils and drought, and can be attractive in any garden.
There are between 50 and 70 species of junipers, depending on what source you follow, and one of them will probably suit your area and cold-hardiness region. The juniper genus ranges from the Arctic to tropical Africa and it has colonized, been introduced or is natural to all continents.
Where to plant them?
Junipers are very adaptable and, depending on the species, they can be planted just about anywhere, except in heavy shade. In shade they tend to get leggy and lack a lot of their distinctive foliage.
There are juniper species which do well as groundcovers, some which work well for foundation plants, other which serve as hedges and wind barriers, and still other species that thrive in rock gardens. They grow will out in the open, or as an espalier against a wall or structure.
They don’t need fertilizer, nor do they require a lot of water. They provide habitat for small birds and other animals (ground squirrels, small lizards, etc.) and their fruit provides food for a wide assortment of creatures.
You can read about one-seed juniper, a native North American species which is quite prevalent across the western U.S., Mexico and British Columbia here.
