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Thuja or ornamental juniper? How to tell them apart
Thuja · Juniperus
How to tell them apart – thuja: only flat sprays of scale leaves; ornamental juniper: ornamental conifer with both prickly needles and scale leaves, often wide-spreading or creeping.
How do you recognise them?
- Thuja
- Flat sprays of scented, scale-like leaves; small oblong cones that open like a little flower.
- Compared with ornamental juniper: only flat sprays of scale leaves.
- Ornamental juniper
- Ornamental conifer with both prickly needles and scale leaves; often wide-spreading or creeping.
| Thuja | Ornamental juniper | |
|---|---|---|
| Needles | Scale-like leaves pressed closely together, in flat, fern-like sprays. When crushed they smell fruity (western red cedar: of pineapple or apple). | Young shoots with needles, older ones with scale-like leaves; often blue-grey with a resinous scent. |
| Flowering | – | – |
| Cones and seeds | Egg-shaped cones 1–1.5 cm with overlapping scales that open like a little flower. | Small, blue, berry-like cones with a waxy bloom. |
| Bark | Red-brown, in long fibrous strips. | Reddish-brown, peeling in strips. |
| Shape and height | Conifer, 10–20 m (western red cedar up to 40 m) | Shrubby conifer, 0.5–5 m |
| Site | Sun or partial shade, any garden soil, normal | Full sun, any garden soil, dry |
| Native to Belgium | No, planted | No, planted |
| Good for bees, butterflies and birds | Yes, for birds | Little |
| Poisonous to people and pets | Yes, take care with children and pets | Not known to be poisonous |
| Pruning months | May–June and August–September | May–June and August–September |
What does it mean for your garden?
- Thuja is poisonous to people and pets: take care with children and animals.
- Thuja grows 10–20 m (western red cedar up to 40 m) tall: too big for an ordinary garden, but fine in a large garden, a park or a meadow.
Read on
- Plant profile: Thuja
- Plant profile: Ornamental juniper
- Thuja: when and how to prune
- Ornamental juniper: when and how to prune
- Identification key
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This comparison is compiled from the Bladwijzer species pages.