A Tall Gold-Tipped Screening Juniper for Minnesota Privacy

Star Power Juniper (Juniperus 'Star Power') brings bright golden-yellow new growth to a full-size screening juniper, mature 15–18 ft tall by 7–9 ft wide. Reliable to -40°F and deer resistant. A privacy screen that carries color — not a bed-level shrub.

Star Power Juniper Plant Details

Star Power Juniper Uses in Minnesota Landscapes

Gold-Toned Privacy Screens

At 15–18 ft tall and 7–9 ft wide, Star Power is a full screening juniper — the broadest of the three we grow for privacy. Planted 5 feet on center it closes into a property-line screen that deer and rabbits walk past, with gold new growth instead of flat green. It needs a real bed, not a 4-foot strip; use Taylor or Sky Rocket where the run is tight.

Color Anchor in Mixed Borders

Star Power's golden new growth acts as a constant color anchor — brighter in spring, softening to green-gold by fall. Give it room: this is a 15-foot plant that spreads 7 to 9 feet, so use it at the back of a border or as a tall corner anchor rather than in a foundation strip.

Best Time to Plant Star Power Juniper in Minnesota

Fall — late August through mid-September — is the ideal planting window for evergreens like Star Power Juniper. Soil is still warm enough for root development, cool air reduces transplant shock, and the plant gets 6–8 weeks to establish roots before the typical mid-November ground freeze in the Twin Cities. The earlier window matters specifically for evergreens because they continue losing moisture through their needles all winter, so root establishment before freeze is critical.

Spring (late April through May, after ground thaw) is the second-best window — you get a full growing season ahead. Avoid summer planting (June–August) when possible; if you must, water heavily and mulch deeply. Get evergreens in the ground by mid-to-late September — they lose moisture through their foliage all winter and need six-plus weeks of root growth before the ground freezes. Spring, once the ground thaws in late April, is the other good window.

How to Plant Star Power Juniper

1. Dig wide, not deep — 2–3x the root ball width, same depth. In heavy clay, dig even wider (3–4x).
2. Check for clay hardpan — if water pools in the hole, break through the clay layer or mound-plant 2–3 inches above grade to improve drainage.
3. Backfill with native soil mixed with 20–30% compost. Don't fill the hole with pure compost — it creates a "container" effect that traps water around the roots.
4. Spacing — 5 feet apart for a continuous privacy screen; 8 feet for individual specimens.
5. Build a 3–4 inch water basin around the plant to direct water to the roots. Flatten or remove the basin in late October to prevent ice damage over winter.
6. Mulch with 2–3 inches of shredded bark or wood chip mulch, kept 2 inches away from the trunk. Do NOT use gravel mulch — it doesn't insulate roots in Minnesota winters.

Watering Star Power Juniper in Minnesota

First Year Watering Schedule

• Weeks 1–2: Every 1–2 days, deep and slow (15–25 minutes)
• Month 1–2: Every 3–4 days
• Month 3–6: Every 5–7 days during active growth; less if rainfall is adequate (Minnesota averages roughly 3 inches/month June–August)
• Stop watering 2–3 weeks before ground freeze (typically late October in Twin Cities metro). Continued late-fall watering can push tender new growth that gets killed by winter.
• One deep watering in early December is a good idea for evergreens if fall has been dry — it helps the plant resist winter desiccation.

After Year One

• Established Star Power Juniper rarely needs supplemental water. Water deeply during droughts (2+ weeks of no rain combined with temps above 80°F).
• Soak to 6–8 inches depth, every 7–14 days during dry spells. Let natural rainfall do the rest.

Drip Irrigation in Minnesota

Drip works well for Star Power Juniper if your beds already have a system. Place emitters 12–18 inches from the trunk. Always blow out lines and shut off the timer by early October — frozen drip lines split.

Will Star Power survive a Minnesota winter?

Yes — rated to USDA zone 3.

Is Star Power big enough for privacy?

Yes. It matures at 15–18 ft tall and 7–9 ft wide — a screening juniper, not a bed-level shrub. Planted 5 feet on center it makes a full-height property-line screen. Expect 6–12 inches of growth per year here, slower than arborvitae, so plan on a longer wait to a solid screen.

Does it stay golden?

New growth is bright gold; older interior foliage transitions to green-gold. Best gold color in full sun.

You May Also Like

• Sky Rocket Juniper — Narrower blue-gray column for tight runs and vertical contrast.
• Taylor Juniper — Tall native green column that holds a tight form under snow.

How Many Star Power Juniper Do I Need?

For a continuous gold-toned privacy screen, plant Star Power 5 feet on center; use 8 feet where you want distinct individual specimens:

Used singly as a tall corner accent, allow an 8-foot circle for the mature spread.

Star Power Juniper Season-by-Season in Minnesota

• Spring: The brightest moment — new growth flushes vivid golden-yellow over the older green framework.
• Summer: Gold tips hold over a dense green-gold body, anchoring color in mixed beds without a single flower needed.
• Fall: Foliage softens to green-gold as growth hardens off for winter.
• Winter: A solid evergreen wall that holds structure and a warm cast against the snow all five months. The broad, dense habit sheds heavy snow better than a narrow column.

At a Glance

✔ Privacy / Screening ✔ Deer-Resistant ✔ Drought-Tolerant ✔ Evergreen ✔ Four-Season Interest

Plant It With

• Sky Rocket Juniper — narrower silvery-blue column for two-tone contrast in the same screen.
• Taylor Juniper — tall native green column that holds a tight form under heavy snow.
• Hetz Midget Arborvitae — tidy dark-green globe at the foot of the screen to make the gold tips pop.
• Green Velvet Boxwood — crisp green mounds to frame the base of the run in foundation beds.

Is Star Power Juniper Right for Your Yard?

Star Power thrives in full sun on almost any drained soil — clay, poor, or dry — and shrugs off deer and -40°F winters while carrying year-round gold color to a full screening height of 15–18 feet. Choose it where you want a privacy screen with color and have a bed deep enough for a 7- to 9-foot spread. It's not a fit for a narrow foundation strip or a tight property-line run — use Taylor or Sky Rocket there — and not a fit for shade: with under 6 hours of sun the gold fades to plain green and the habit gets loose, which defeats the reason to plant it.