Juniperus, Rocky Mountain Juniper 'Medora'
Best vertical accent for gardeners seeking low-maintenance, year-round privacy screening.
Elevate your landscape with the Juniperus, Rocky Mountain Juniper 'Medora,' a striking evergreen shrub offering year-round visual appeal. Its distinctively narrow, columnar form provides excellent vertical interest, making it ideal for accent planting or creating dense, tall hedges. The foliage displays a captivating powder blue hue that persists through all seasons. This resilient shrub thrives in full sun and adapts to various soil moisture levels, provided drainage is adequate. Reaching a mature height of 10-12 feet with a slender spread of 3-4 feet, it offers substantial presence without dominating horizontal space.
$59.99
Owner Satisfaction
4.7
/ 5
Category Rank
34
/ 2598
#34 in Bushes & Shrubs
Price vs Category Average
+52%
Above average
Mature Height
1012
/ to feet
Who it's for
- Urban gardeners needing vertical accents for tight spaces
- Homeowners in harsh climates seeking low-maintenance landscaping
- Designers prioritizing consistent color and winter visual interest
Who should skip it
- Gardeners managing heavy clay or waterlogged soil conditions
- Busy homeowners wanting a strictly hands-off, pest-free plant
- Impatient landscapers looking for immediate height and fast results
Performance breakdown
Vertical Impact
Columnar form creates a sharp, architectural statement in tight garden spaces.
Year-Round Aesthetics
Powder blue foliage maintains vibrant color through every changing season.
Maintenance Ease
Low-effort shrub that thrives with minimal pruning or specialized care.
Environmental Resilience
Exceptional drought tolerance and hardiness make it a reliable landscape choice.
Pest Deterrence
Natural deer resistance protects your investment from common garden wildlife damage.
Screening Utility
Dense growth habit provides effective privacy without consuming excessive horizontal space.
Key Specs
Mature Height
10 to 12 feet
Mature Spread
3 to 4 feet
Sunlight Requirement
Full Sun
USDA Hardiness Zone
3a (Recommended for zones 3 through 7)
Growth Habit
Multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with columnar form
Foliage
Soft textured blue needle-like and scale-like leaves
Lifespan
70 years or more
Other Names
Colorado Redcedar
Features
- Striking powder blue evergreen foliage year-round
- Rigidly columnar growth habit for vertical accents
- Deer resistant and low maintenance
- Adaptable to dry and moist growing conditions
- Excellent hardiness and drought tolerance
- Ideal for vertical accents and screening
What customers say
Customers highly value the Juniperus Rocky Mountain Juniper 'Medora' for its exceptional quality and reliable form. Reviewers consistently praise its striking, narrow architectural shape, perfect for vertical screening or accent planting in confined areas. The plant demonstrates superior hardiness, establishing quickly and thriving even in difficult climates. Its dense, blue-green foliage offers beautiful year-round interest. While the initial cost is premium, the long-term performance and minimal maintenance confirm its excellent perceived value. Buyers express strong confidence in the vigor and true-to-type columnar growth habit received from Gertens.
Know before you buy
To create a dense, continuous screen, space your Medora Junipers approximately 3 to 4 feet apart on center. This allows the columnar forms to touch without overcrowding, maintaining the plant's natural vertical shape.
Yes, the Medora Juniper is exceptionally hardy and is recommended for USDA zones 3 through 7. It is well-suited for regions with harsh winters and can withstand temperatures as low as -40°F.
No, the Medora Juniper is a true evergreen that maintains its striking powder blue hue throughout the entire year. Its color remains consistent regardless of the season.
While no plant is 100% deer-proof, the Medora Juniper is highly deer resistant. Its needle-like foliage and scent are generally unappealing to deer, making it a reliable choice for landscapes where browsing is a concern.
The most critical requirement is well-drained soil. If your garden has heavy clay that holds water, amend the soil with organic matter or plant on a slight mound to ensure the roots do not sit in standing water.
The Medora Juniper is a low-maintenance plant that requires very little pruning due to its naturally tight, columnar growth habit. Once established, it is quite drought-tolerant and only needs occasional watering during extended dry spells.
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Ready to buy?
$60