Juniperus squamata Dream Joy

The Juniperus squamata Dream Joy is a variety of scale-leaved juniper with particularly decorative foliage. The young shoots are a sulfur yellow when they emerge and therefore stand out distinctly against the aged foliage, which is blue-green to steel blue in colour. As it ages, the shoots gradually adopt this hue at the end of the season and in winter. With a spreading habit, this small conifer is twice as wide as it is tall. This covering habit is particularly appreciated in rockeries or to fill a slope. Highly cold-resistant, it thrives in full sun. Not demanding in terms of soil, it tolerates neutral to limestone soil, even poor soil, as long as it is well-drained. It appreciates some moisture initially but can withstand drought once established. 

The scale-leaved juniper, also known as the Nepalese juniper, gets its name from its old needles that it retains at the base of the branches. It is an evergreen species native to the mountains of the Himalayas and China, at an altitude between 1600 and 4900 m (5249 ft 4 in and 16076 ft 1 in). As a result, it is a highly hardy conifer (down to -25°C and even lower) and not very demanding. It belongs to the Cupressaceae family, just like its cousins Thuja, Cypress, and Chamaecyparis.
This 'Dream Joy' variety forms a beautiful bush after 10 years, with a wide and spreading yet compact habit, measuring about 60 cm (23.6 in) in height and 1.20 m (3 ft 11 in) in spread, sometimes more depending on the growing conditions. It is a mutation of the 'Holger' variety selected in the Netherlands in the mid-80s. Its branches arranged in large, flexible fronds, with a feathery appearance, are completely covered with short and rigid twigs, adorned with tightly packed, imbricate small leaves. The foliage is a shade of steel blue to blue-green in autumn and winter, contrasting with the sulfur yellow spring shoots. Junipers have a shallow root system, which can sometimes make it difficult to associate them with perennials.

The 'Dream Joy' juniper is an undemanding conifer, easy to grow on a slope or in a rockery, as long as the soil remains fairly moist and it is placed in a sunny location. It can be installed above a wall or a low wall, or near a pool, as it blends well with geometric lines and masonry structures. It is also excellent as ground cover on a slope or in a large rockery, as long as it can be watered in the first few years. It can also be potentially planted in a large container. In mixed borders, its contrasting colours will pair well with the purple of a 'Royal Purple' smoke bush to create a spectacular scene throughout the season. Its spreading habit will beautifully contrast with plants with a columnar habit, such as the fastigiate common yew, whose dark green foliage in the background will highlight the yellow of its young shoots.