The Spiny Greek Juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘Spiny Greek’) is a tough, fast-growing evergreen with a dense, upright, columnar form and prickly blue-green foliage that glows year-round. Its narrow, stately shape and stiff, needle-like foliage, spiny to the touch and hence the name, make it a classic choice for hedges, privacy screens, windbreaks, and formal topiary. As a result, cold-hardy, drought-tough, and salt- and pollution-tolerant, the Spiny Greek Juniper thrives in tough spots where many evergreens struggle, giving you reliable structure and screening with almost no fuss.

Why Grow a Spiny Greek Juniper?

Fast-growing evergreen screen – dense, columnar growth gives quick year-round privacy and a strong vertical accent.
Striking blue-green color – prickly, sage-to-blue-green foliage holds its color all year, with a slight bronze tint in cold winters.
Tough & adaptable – also drought-, heat-, wind-, salt-, and pollution-tolerant, so it is ideal for coastal, urban, and roadside sites.
Deer-resistant & low-maintenance – the aromatic, prickly foliage keeps deer away, and it needs little more than an annual shearing.
Versatile form – especially good for hedges, windbreaks, formal pairs, topiary, and even bonsai.

Looking for more evergreen structure? Browse our Shrubs & Bushes and Trees collections.

Plant Specifications at a Glance

Botanical name: Juniperus chinensis ‘Spiny Greek’ (Chinese juniper)
Plant type: Evergreen coniferous shrub / small tree (upright, columnar)
Plant family: Cupressaceae (the cypress family)
Mature size: about 12–15 feet tall and 4–5 feet wide, in a dense, columnar form
Foliage: Prickly, needle-like, blue-green to sage-green; evergreen year-round
Notable traits: Salt-, drought-, wind-, and pollution-tolerant; deer-resistant; low-maintenance
Cold Hardiness Zones: 4–9

Spiny Greek Juniper Care & Growing Guide

This is one of the easiest, toughest evergreens you can grow. Follow these guidelines:

Sunlight: Thrives in full sun and keeps its best color and density there. It will also tolerate some light shade.
Water: Water regularly to establish a strong root system, and more often in extreme heat. Once mature, it is drought-tolerant and needs only occasional watering.
Soil: Adapts to most soils, though it prefers dry, well-drained ground. However, it will not tolerate soggy, wet soil.
Cold Hardiness Zone: 4–9, since it is cold-hardy and heat-tough across a wide range.
Pruning: Low-maintenance, so shear lightly once a year to keep a tidy shape. However, trim only into green growth, since junipers do not regrow from bare old wood.

Good to know: the foliage can cause skin irritation for some people, so it is a good idea to wear gloves when shearing or handling it.

Ways to Use Spiny Greek Juniper in the Landscape

This stiff, columnar evergreen excels at screening and structure. Popular uses for the Spiny Greek Juniper include:

Evergreen privacy hedge or screen
Also a windbreak for exposed and coastal sites
Vertical accent, formal pairs, and entrance sentinels
Similarly, topiary, spirals, and bonsai
Foundation plantings and containers

It pairs beautifully with other upright evergreens. For example, gardeners often combine it with the formal Italian Cypress, the narrow blue Skyrocket Juniper, or the compact Little Giant Arborvitae.

What You’ll Receive

These are live Spiny Greek Juniper starter plants, grown and shipped by Carlo’s Plant Farm. Each plant is less than 12 inches tall when we ship it. The listing photos show mature plants of the same species. That way, you can see how yours will look as they grow. Finally, choose your preferred bundle size using the options above.

Also, due to different state laws, we reserve the right to charge extra fees where necessary to comply.

Ordering, Shipping & Returns

Every order ships free and is insured against loss or damage in transit. For full details on how we pack and send your plants, processing and delivery times, and what to do in the rare case of a problem, please review our Shipping Policy and Terms & Conditions before purchasing. By placing an order, you agree to those terms.

Spiny Greek Juniper FAQ

Growing & Care Questions

What is a Spiny Greek Juniper?

It is a tough, fast-growing evergreen, Juniperus chinensis Spiny Greek, with a dense, upright, columnar form. Notably, its prickly, needle-like blue-green foliage is spiny to the touch, which gives the plant its name.

How big does the Spiny Greek Juniper get?

It reaches about 12 to 15 feet tall and 4 to 5 feet wide, in a dense, columnar form. As a result, it gives strong vertical screening without taking up much width.

How far apart should I plant it for a hedge or screen?

For a privacy hedge, space plants about 3 to 4 feet apart. That spacing lets the columnar forms grow together into a solid evergreen wall.

How much sun does the Spiny Greek Juniper need?

It thrives in full sun, which keeps its best color and density. It will also tolerate some light shade. However, color and form are strongest in full sun.

Why is it called Spiny Greek?

It is the foliage. Unlike soft-needled junipers, this one has stiff, prickly, needle-like leaves that are spiny to the touch. Therefore, it is a good idea to wear gloves when handling it.

Hardiness, Buying & Shipping Questions

How often should I water the Spiny Greek Juniper?

Water regularly to establish a strong root system, and more often in extreme heat. Once mature, it is drought-tolerant and needs only occasional watering. Importantly, it will not tolerate soggy, wet soil.

What growing zones is it suited for?

It is hardy across a wide range, USDA Cold Hardiness Zones 4 to 9. Because of that, it is both cold-hardy and heat-tough, performing well in many climates.

Is the Spiny Greek Juniper good for tough or coastal sites?

Yes, exceptionally. It is drought-, heat-, wind-, salt-, and pollution-tolerant. As a result, it thrives in coastal, urban, and roadside spots where many evergreens struggle.

How and when should I prune it?

It is low-maintenance, so shear lightly once a year to keep a tidy shape. However, trim only into green growth, since junipers do not regrow from bare old wood.

What size plants will I receive?

You will receive live Spiny Greek Juniper starter plants. Each one is under 12 inches tall at shipping, grown and shipped by Carlo’s Plant Farm. The listing photos show mature plants of the same species. So you can see how yours will look as they grow. Finally, choose your bundle size using the options above.

Spiny Greek Juniper (Juniperus chinensis) columnar blue-green evergreen

Spiny Greek juniper upright prickly blue-green foliage

Click to enlarge

Spiny Greek juniper narrow columnar evergreen for hedges

Spiny Greek juniper dense evergreen screen plant

Spiny Greek juniper blue-green needled foliage close-up

Carlos Plant Farm

Spiny Greek Juniper – Juniperus chinensis ‘Spiny Greek’ (Columnar Evergreen, Live Starter Plant)

Price range: $33.79 through $209.89

Add fast, year-round privacy with a live Spiny Greek Juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘Spiny Greek’). This upright, columnar evergreen has dense, prickly blue-green foliage and grows about 12–15 feet tall by 4–5 feet wide — ideal for hedges, screens, windbreaks, and topiary. Tough and adaptable, it’s drought-, salt-, wind-, and pollution-tolerant, deer-resistant, and low-maintenance. Shipped as a healthy live starter plant (under 12 inches tall) by Carlos Plant Farm. Cold hardy in USDA zones 4–9.

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