Often described as “stately,” and “dramatic” the upright, columnar Skyrocket juniper (Juniperus scopulorum “Skyrocket”) is ideal for those narrow landscape spots that are crying out for an accent plant.

By the way, Skyrocket is a variety of Rocky Mountain juniper, often mislabeled as a type of J. virginiana.

Skyrocket’s foliage has a pretty, blue cast during the growing season and, in fall, bears ornamental blue berries which are a favorite of birds and other wildlife.

Many J. scopulorum species are difficult to root from cuttings and most commercial growers graft the trees. This doesn’t mean it can’t be done. Your best bet is to take hardwood cuttings when the outdoor air temperature is 35 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit. And, don’t give up. The cutting may take up to 18 weeks to root.

Here’s what you’ll need to get those cuttings to root:

• Nursery pot
• Coarse sand or peat moss and perlite
• Pruning shears
• Sharp knife
• Rooting hormone powder
• Paper towel
• Plastic bag with twist tie

Fill the nursery pot with moist sand or a combination of perlite and peat moss in a 10:1 ratio. Use a pencil, chopstick or your finger to poke a 5-inch deep hole in the center of the medium.

Cut a 6-inch to 12-inch, pencil-thick stem from the Skyrocket juniper and strip off most of its foliage, leaving a small tuft at the tip.

Use a sharp knife to lightly scrape the bark, on two sides, of the bottom inch of the Skyrocket juniper cutting.

Pour a dime-sized portion of rooting hormone powder onto a paper towel. Dip the wounded portion of the cutting into a cup of water and then into the hormone powder. Stick it, powdered-end down, into the planting medium.

Place the Skyrocket juniper in a plastic bag or other type of humidity-providing device, on a 60 to 65-degree Fahrenheit heat mat, set in an area with high light. Allow it to remain on the mat for at least six weeks, then increase the temperature of the mat to 70 to 75 degrees.

Allow the new Skyrocket juniper to grow on in indirect sun, indoors, over its first winter. Let the top of the soil, up to your knuckle, dry out between irrigations.

Featured image: By MPF – Own work, CC BY 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1023226