- Mature height
- Held at the trained size by annual clipping
- Mature width
- Held at the trained size by annual clipping
Juniperus chinensis 'Keteleeri' cloud pruned is a hand-trained specimen conifer, shaped over many years in the niwaki tradition into open tiers of foliage carried on exposed, sculptural branches. Each plant is worked individually, so no two are the same.
The foliage is a clean mid to deep green, fine and scale-like, held in distinct rounded pads that read as floating clouds against a wall, a gravel bed or an open sky. The bare branch structure between the pads is as much of the picture as the foliage, which is what separates a cloud tree from ordinary topiary.
'Keteleeri' takes to cloud work better than most junipers because it is vigorous, holds strong colour and produces the woody structure the style needs. It is drought tolerant once established, frost hardy, and handles coastal and urban positions, so it holds its shape in exposed spots that would defeat softer specimen plants.
Use it as the single focal point in a courtyard, beside an entry, over a gravel or moss bed, or in a large pot on a terrace. Two light clips a year is enough to keep the pads defined.
Limited numbers. Cloud pruned specimens are trained individually over years, so availability is small and each plant differs. Get in touch if you would like photographs of the exact specimen before you order.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Keteleeri Cloud Pruned Juniper
What is cloud pruning?
Cloud pruning, or niwaki, is a Japanese training style where foliage is reduced to distinct rounded pads carried on exposed branches. The bare structure between the pads is deliberate and is as much of the effect as the foliage itself. It is done by hand over several years.
Is every plant the same?
No. Each specimen is trained individually, so branch structure, pad placement and overall outline vary from plant to plant. That individuality is the point of a cloud tree. Get in touch if you would like photographs of the exact plant before ordering.
How much maintenance does a cloud tree need?
Less than most people expect. Two light clips a year, in spring and again in autumn, keeps the pads defined. The work is pinching back new growth on the pads and keeping the branch structure clear, not hard cutting. Never cut back into old bare wood, because junipers do not reshoot from it.
Does it need sun or shade?
Full sun. Six hours or more of direct light a day keeps the pads dense and the colour strong. In shade the foliage thins and the pads lose definition, which undoes the effect the training is there to create.
Can it grow in a pot?
Yes, and it suits one. A wide, heavy, free-draining pot works well on a terrace or beside an entry, and the restricted root run helps hold the plant's scale. Use a free-draining mix and never let the pot stand in water.
Is it frost and drought tolerant?
Yes to both. 'Keteleeri' handles heavy frost without damage and, once established, needs very little supplementary water. That hardiness is part of why junipers are the traditional subject for this style.
How do I plant and care for it?
Plant into free-draining soil in full sun, level with the surrounding ground, and stake if the site is exposed until the roots take hold. Water deeply once or twice a week through the first two summers, then only in extended dry spells. Feed with a slow release fertiliser in early spring, and keep mulch clear of the trunk to avoid collar rot.
