Yearning for Tuscany? Try Woodward columnar juniper
Woodward columnar juniper is one of the most exciting new woody trees to come out of our program, maybe the most exciting ever! This beautiful upright columnar evergreen tree was found near Guernsey, Wyoming. In its early days, it was found to be difficult to propagate and so it never gained very much traction. We found it growing at the old Cheyenne Horticultural Field Station in Cheyenne, Wyoming 25 years ago and tinkered around with trying to unlock its rooting secrets. We finally cracked the code and it can now be rooted in sufficient numbers so gardeners everywhere can enjoy its attributes.
Woodward columnar juniper is a selection of our native Rocky Mountain juniper. It can grow to be 20 feet tall but is very narrow, only 2 to 4 feet wide. It bears a great resemblance to the columnar Italian Cypress which never fails to make a lasting impression on those who visit the Tuscan countryside in Italy. Woodward columnar juniper has attractive bluish needles year around, and once established it is a very xeric tree. It is a top choice as a tall evergreen screen where space is an issue and a narrow form is required. It has stood the test of time here in our climate and has proven to be remarkably free from limb damage after our frequent heavy snow loads. This distinctive tree is sure to be popular throughout most of the temperate parts of our country. The look of the Tuscan countryside could be yours.
View the plant profile here.
Woodward columnar juniper
Juniperus scopulorum ‘Woodward’
Conifer
Size: 20’ tall x 2-4’ wide
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Moderate to xeric
Hardiness: USDA Zones 3-9
Culture: Thrives in most kinds of soil
Deer Resistant
Pairs well with:
• Redleaf rose
• CHEYENNE® mock orange
• Giant sacaton grass
Thanks to Scott Skogerboe, Fort Collins Wholesale Nursery for this piece
Gene Howard (the last Director of the High Plains Horticultural Research Station) told me that the Woodward was originally found up near Gurensey WY.
Also the name “Central Great Plains USDA Horticulture Station” incorrect. It was actually called the Cheyenne Horticultural Field Station. Please correct this in your documents.
Thanks
Got it changed – thanks, Shane! I’ll check the manuscript for the book, too. Did Gene find it, or did someone else?
Any chance you have a list of nurseries with this available? No luck at my favorites so far.
The wholesalers sold out early this year, so not sure what garden centers might have gotten them. It was definitely a plant in high demand and short supply before the season even started! Try Fort Collins Nursery.
Fort Collins Nursery told me today they sold out their entire stock of 100 Woodwards in early March. Fingers crossed for Fall availability. If you want some, get on the wait list.
Just had a call from my local nursery and they just got 15 in for me. I have 5 acres so that not really a lot.
Well, it’s a start. You can always substitute some of the other upright Juniperus scopulorum selections, they just won’t be as narrow. Glad you were able to get some, at least!
I asked how quickly the Woodward juniper grows, your comments on the virtue o fthe tree did not tell me what I asked,
I planted 15 Woodwards in the Spring of 2021. They were about 6 ft tall when planted and have grown 2.5ft – 3ft as of nov 2021.
They are south facing and get full sun all day, I also was vary attentive with them and made sure they got enough water.
I’ve seen the Woodward start off slowly for the first couple years after it’s been planted- 8-12 inches. As it approaches 4 foot tall and can start to grow quicker, closer to 18-24 inches per year. Lots of that depends on watering and sun exposure.
How can I catch the Woodward juniper in terms of planting it? Do I just break a piece of it and plant it or do I have to get seeds or suckers?
Junipers can be very difficult to propagate and Woodward Juniper is one of those. They are propagated by cuttings rooted into small containers then up shifted into larger containers. Even in the best conditions, several won’t root out. If you collect seed and get it to germinate, there is no guarantee that it will be a nice ,narrow, beautiful Woodward looking plant. Honestly, it’s much easier and quicker to enjoy these junipers by just purchasing one from a garden center.
I am interested in a narrow upright juniper for my small backyard. I haven’t seen any posts on how it holds up in a heavy snow.
Locate any tall/older Woodward juniper and look for damage. Woodward juniper growth habit is such that the branches don’t catch snow. You will be hard-pressed to find any damage on the lateral branches on any in the landscape and none of them will show damage on the leader at the top. Denver Botanic Gardens has several large ones where one can compare body shape and they all experienced the same weather events.
I have a crabapple in my yard and other apple/ornamentals nearby at the neighbors. Should I avoid this kind of juniper because of rust?
It’s more susceptible to getting rust with hawthorns around. I’ve only seen apple cedar rust on Woodwards once in CO. If you have other junipers in the neighborhood, check them for rust and you’ll have a better idea if it is going to be any sort of problem
Will this tree grow well in the Charlotte area of NC, zone 7B?
Maybe. It might be too humid. Does anyone have a Woodward Juniper out there?
Where to find??
For planting on sand dunes northern indiana.
I’ll get you one this year. Know that I think Annie is GREAT!
I had originally set my mind on a few Juniperus virginiana ‘Taylor’ to create a privacy screen and dark backdrop to show off a shapely tree form of Foresteria neomexicana I’m planning for part of our water-wise landscape design in our central Colorado mountain town at 7000′, However, I just read that ‘Taylor’ may be a male cultivar. That means no berries, right? If junipers are to be in our yard, they must have berries — for the birds and for the beauty of them! Does ‘Woodward’ produce berries?
Woodward does not have that many berries to offer. There are some, but not a lot.
I am interested in this Juniper “Woodward” to use in a container. Several in a row along a fence raised above ground level. I have plenty of room to build large containers for this plant.
Northeastern Ohio zone 5.
Can this stay out side throughout the winter or will it need to be stored indoors, which might be difficult? Thank you.
Full sun exposure all day long. Also, would it be good nesting for birds?
Thank you.
If the containers are large and sitting on the ground, yes these should survive through the winters. They are a zone 3 plant. Full sun is perfect and a good habitat for small birds. Enjoy!
How closely can I plant these together? I’d like a flush wall of them to line my backyard.
Plant them 3′ apart and you’ll achieve a nice hedge. Do not shear tops until they are beyond the desired height of the wall. These are a perfect plant for this application.
I want to do this too. Is this 3 feet on center? Thank you!
“On Center” is the only way to measure that makes sense when spacing plants. Yes it’s 3ft on center.
Yes.
I have several Woodwards in my landscape and love them. The leader on the newest (youngest) one has a bit of a curve to it, unlike my others. Should I stake the leader on this one new plant, and if so, for about how long? (I have staked the entire plant to stabilize the root ball, but am wondering about staking the leader as well.) Thank you.
The tops of Woodwards are a little floppy looking but they always grow straight up. This loose top may be the reason that the tops do not break off in heavy snow. There is no need to stake the top. Enjoy!
I planted some ‘Woodward’ with a spacing of 2’ apart for a privacy screen. They were planted a few months ago. Is this too close for them to be planted together? Would you recommend replanting them further apart?
Two feet apart is very close. Four feet is fine, but if it is too much work to move them, they will still create a good-looking hedge for many years to come. Keep the plants narrow by not watering them after they are estabished.
Once the woodwards have reached the height I need them to be, how to I trim them or keep them manageable? And what time of year do you trim these?
As they approach the desired height start to shear them lightly. Shear them in the spring after they have received lots of natural precipitation. Remember that their size can me managed a little by never providing them with supplemental irrigation.
I have 3 of these Woodwards and 3 Taylors. One of my Woodwards is losing it’s color. It was planted in July and looked great until about ~3 weeks ago. It has been turning a very pale greenish/grey color. The other 2 woodwards are not doing this. Also out of the other two that aren’t doing it, one gets more sunlight and the other gets less sunlight. So the one turning colors is more in the middle of the sunlight spectrum in my yard. Is this normal? I am concerned it may not make it through winter and looking to see if I need to do anything proactively. All three are on the same amount of drippers so watering should be roughly the same.
Very interesting. The first thought is to make sure there is good root to soil contact for that individual juniper. Send over pictures if you can to Director@plantselect.org and we can discuss more in depth. Thanks!
Does I stay green or turn a little grey? I am worried mine is not doing well. It’s December but it has been unusually warm.
Yes, it will turn a little grey in the winter months and back to green over the summer. Enjoy!
I’m interested in planting either a few Woodward Junipers or Taylor Eastern Red Cedars (same as Taylor Juniper?) in my front yard in Lakewood to screen a busy street. One complication is a plastic 1-2” diameter gas line buried 2-3 feet deep through the front lawn. It is roughly parallel to the sidewalk and offset from it by 2.5-3 feet.
My questions are:
1. Would this type of columnar Rocky Mountain Juniper have a root system at planting size that would be hard to fit between the gas line and sidewalk, and do the roots tend to cause problems with nearby concrete walks or driveways as they reach maturity?
2. How close can I plan a Woodward or Taylor to my sidewalk and driveway to avoid having to prune it to keep it from encroaching over the concrete?
Many thanks in advance! My yard is giving me lots of headaches due to the size constraints.
So Taylor vs Woodward. Really depends on where you are in the country. If you’re west of Omaha Nebraska you’ll want Woodward. Tougher for winters does not turn bronze like Taylor does. If you’re east you will want Taylor’s. They take humidity and wet better. Those are the biggest differences. Otherwise very similar. Taylor’s seem to get more berries and have a tighter leader at top. Woodwards do better in winter snows with looser tops. Great plants.
[…] upright conifers. For a tall and evergreen exclamation mark, consider using the skyrocket – columnar Juniperus scopulorum – which is an ultra thin […]
What spacing do you recommend between trees (from trunk to trunk) if planting a row of Woodward Junipers for a privacy screen that looks full without a lot of space between the trees?
Plant on 4 foot centers. Sorry for the delay to your question. Enjoy!
I purchased 2 Woodward Junipers and plan to plant them on the North side of our home, which can get very windy. This area is also partially sunny (mostly afternoon sun). How well do the Woodwards hold up to wind (sometimes 60-80 mph gusts)? Should I expect to see slower growth given the lack of sunlight hours? Basically, are they okay to plant in this location? Thank you!
They should be fine in that location. As for wind, they are bulletproof! The ones in Cheyenne at LCCC have never gotten any water, are 20+ feet tall and straight as an arrow on the open plains. Enjoy!
(June 2023) I have a long hedge of woodward junipers that are about 4 yrs old. Some of them are starting to get brittle yellow branches that are turning brown and falling off. Not all of of the trees though. No evidence of insects. I suspect they are getting way too much water with all the rain this spring (I have not watered since late fall). They were planted in well draining soil with pebbles and amendments by a professional tree company. Other than making sure the mulch is away from the base of the tree, what can I do about them getting water logged and potential root rot? The only other thing I can think of is fungus. Would fungus kill woodwards? I had cedar apple rust early this spring and I picked off a lot of galls before they got large. I also treated x1 with myclobutanil and 1x with copper treatment. Any ideas you can offer would be super helpful. I’m worried about them. -Bridget
The abundance of spring water is hard on Woodward junipers, and it also makes it easier for apple cedar rust to spread around. I have never seen apple cedar rust kill a juniper. Personally, I cut those branches out when I see galls or fruiting bodies and let the juniper re-sprout. Avoid watering these plants and they should perform just fine. I’m sure they will live another 20+ years.
What is the best watering schedule for newly planted 4 ft Woodwards in CO (drip — how many emitters to each/how often and how long each watering session)? When should I change that watering schedule to something different? Do they need supplemental water in the winter during their first year or two?
The nursery I bought them from didn’t know what the best watering schedule would be for Woodwards since they were a new item for them. Thank you so much for the information!
Emitters can deliver different volumes of water, so it’s hard to offer exact amounts. Water at least weekly for the next couple of years and then back off the watering. Here is link with more info about watering schedules. When using emitters, turn on the system for 15 minutes and catch all the water those emitters for 1 plant deliver. From there you can convert gallons to inches of water. I hope to do a video on this sometime soon. Great plant!
Here is what my 10-12 ft tall Woodwards look like this morning after 8 inches of heavy wet snow. I shook the snow off and the are all bent fairly bad, none are broken though which is surprising.
I’m assuming they will recover this spring? Do I need to do anything to help them?
Give them some time to recover. See if the heat perks up the branches. If they don’t in late June prune out some of those branches. No need to prune all the way back to the trunk, but just inside the shrub will do. Photos don’t come through this communication channel so I can’t see how bad the damage is. They should perk up though. Enjoy!
Josh, I’m wondering if you’ve come across any tips to prepare them for winter snow load? I have a row of 24 woodwards that are about 8 ft tall and they get bent over dangerously during winter snow load. The leader never breaks off, but the whole thing gets bent, usually in the opposite direction that snow/wind came at them from. I’m considering wrapping them with twine or burlap but I don’t know if I”ll have the same problem because the wet snow will just accumulate on the burlap, and I don’t know if this will will dys-regulate aspiration. While they all look terrible in the spring, they do seem to bounce back a bit once it warms up, especially if I temporarily stake them. Just trying to think of prevention.
I love the Tuscan look of these trees and would love to plant several around the perimeter of my house. How close can I safely plant them next to the house with out worrying about root issues near my foundation (I always wondered how tuscan villas had trees planted so closely to the houses with no fear of issues with roots).
The roots won’t affect the foundation at all. However, you might want to consider planting it further away to be firewise.
I’ve had a pretty bad experience with my 5 Woodward planted last spring. They got what appears to be a quince cedar rust, which seems to have weakened them. Also, they soaked up the wet spring snows this year like sponges and bent over pretty badly – I tried shaking them off but could only remove some of the snow because it stuck to the needle structure like cement. The other problem is that they seem to hate my flat yard- I can never seem to get the watering right and I’m worried that their roots are just sitting in water but when I stop watering they don’t improve. 3 out of 5 are mostly yellow and seem destined to die this summer. Big disappointment for how much this tree was promoted. I might as well have planted arborvitae.
Sorry to hear this. Apple Cedar rust does not necessarily weaken the plants. If they are getting too much water, they can suffer. Apple cedar rust is a fungus whose lifecycle is shared with other plants in the rosacea family and if you have hawthorns nearby that have that cedar rust, the woodwards will be affected. You can prune those branches out and that will help manage the problem. That is not good for uniformity, but they will recover.
LOCATED IN HIGHLANDS RANCH CO. I WOULD LIKE TO PLANT 3 WOODWARDS AS A SCREEN BETWEEN MY HOUSE AND A NEIGHBOR. THE FENCE LINE IS A DRAINAGE AREA AND STAYS WET. WOULD WOODWARDS BE GOOD TO PLANT IN BIG PLASTIC POTS, BURIED HALF WAY?
THANK YOU.
BRENDA
Depending on how wet the area is, woodwards may just grow larger and faster. They will also be more prone to diseases. I would stay away from the idea of planting them in pots. Buy the smallest woodards you can find and possibly build up the soil a few inches there and see how they do. That’s the best advice I can offer.
Anything I can do to prepare my woodwards for winter? The snow load never breaks the leader, but the trees get severely bent over with snow. It takes awhile in the spring for them to recover. As others have said, I can’t shake snow off them because it just sticks to the needles. I’ve seen other neighbors wrap their evergreens with some kind of tape. Does that work?