Mint Julep Juniper Pompom adds sculptural Asian-inspired structure to Eden Prairie, Wayzata, and Edina landscapes — a hand-trained topiary form of the classic mint-green juniper. About Mint Julep Juniper Pompom Botanical Name Juniperus × pfitzeriana 'Monlep' (topiary) Mature Size 4-5ft tall × 3-4ft wide Bloom / Foliage Evergreen juniper; no flowers Sun Requirements Full sun (6+ hrs). Water Needs Low. Highly drought-tolerant. Soil Tolerates Minnesota clay-loam, sandy soils. Excellent drainage required. Hardiness Zones 3-9 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a). Reliable to -40°F. Deer Resistance Rarely browsed — one of the most deer-resistant evergreens Foliage Evergreen — needle/scale foliage Growth Rate Moderate — 12-18 inches per year Why You'll Love Mint Julep Juniper Pompom Deer-resistant evergreenJunipers handle the worst Minnesota conditions — sun, dry soils, deer, road salt. Privacy + foundationUpright forms for screens; spreading forms for foundations and slopes. Winter interestYear-round color and structure against snow. Topiary pompom-form Mint Julep juniper Sculptural pompom topiary form — instant Japanese garden style. That's why Mint Julep Juniper Pompom has earned a spot in our Minnesota launch catalog — it's a juniper we're confident will thrive in your Twin Cities landscape. Planting Mint Julep Juniper Pompom in the Twin Cities Best planting window: Spring (mid-April through early June) or early fall (late August through late September). Avoid planting during peak summer heat — Twin Cities heat waves can stress newly installed root balls. Site selection: Full sun (6+ hrs). Choose a location with the mature size of 4-5ft tall × 3-4ft wide in mind — give Mint Julep Juniper Pompom room to fill out without crowding fences, sidewalks, or neighboring plants. Soil prep: Tolerates Minnesota clay-loam, sandy soils. Excellent drainage required. If your Twin Cities yard has heavy clay (common in Plymouth, Eden Prairie, and Wayzata), amend the planting hole with 25-30% compost to improve drainage. For sandy soils in parts of Anoka and Washington counties, mix in compost to improve water retention. How to plant: Dig a hole 2× the width of the root ball and the same depth. Loosen the sides of the hole — slick clay walls block root expansion. Set Mint Julep Juniper Pompom so the top of the root ball is 1-2" above grade. Backfill with native soil mixed 25% with compost. Tamp gently. Water deeply (5+ gallons) immediately after planting. Mulch 2-3" deep, keeping mulch 2" away from the stem. Watering & Care First year (establishment): Water deeply 1-2× per week from April through October. Mint Julep Juniper Pompom needs consistent moisture to develop a strong root system for its first Minnesota winter. Check soil moisture 4-6" deep — water when the top 2-3" feels dry. Established (year 2+): Low. Highly drought-tolerant. During typical Twin Cities summers, supplemental water during 2+ week dry spells is enough. Winter prep: Water deeply in late October before ground freeze — this protects Mint Julep Juniper Pompom through dry winter winds. Apply a fresh 2-3" layer of mulch in November to insulate the root zone through deep freezes. Pruning: Prune lightly in late spring or early summer. Avoid cutting into bare wood. Frequently Asked Questions Is Mint Julep Juniper Pompom hardy in Minnesota? Yes. Mint Julep Juniper Pompom is rated for zones 3-9 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a) — the Twin Cities metro is zone 4b–5a, well within its hardiness range. Sculptural pompom topiary form — instant Japanese garden style. How fast does Mint Julep Juniper Pompom grow? Moderate — 12-18 inches per year. Expect mature size (4-5ft tall × 3-4ft wide) within 5-8 years depending on site conditions and care. Will deer eat Mint Julep Juniper Pompom? Rarely browsed — one of the most deer-resistant evergreens. In high-deer-pressure suburbs (Wayzata, Stillwater, Hudson), supplemental fencing or repellents may help young plants establish. Can I plant Mint Julep Juniper Pompom in part shade? Full sun (6+ hrs). What size gallon should I buy? We typically offer Mint Julep Juniper Pompom in #2, #5, #10, and sometimes larger gallon sizes. Smaller sizes establish faster and cost less; larger sizes give instant impact. For most Twin Cities residential landscapes, #5 or #10 gallon is the sweet spot. Where We Deliver Three Timbers Minnesota delivers and installs Mint Julep Juniper Pompom across the Twin Cities metro — Minneapolis, St. Paul, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Edina, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Wayzata, Bloomington, Apple Valley, Burnsville, Lakeville, Eagan, Roseville, Shoreview, Stillwater, Woodbury, Hudson, Hopkins, St. Louis Park, Chanhassen, Excelsior, Victoria, Chaska, and surrounding communities. Live Mint Julep Juniper Pompom grown for our climate and delivered fresh from our Waconia, MN nursery. How Many Mint Julep Juniper Pompom Do I Need? This is a hand-trained topiary specimen, not a hedging plant — buy by placement, not by the foot. One pompom in a 4–5 foot circle makes an instant focal point beside an entry, patio, or boulder. A matched pair flanking a front door or gate reads formal; a staggered trio at 5–6 feet apart along a gravel or rock garden gives the full Japanese-garden effect. Because it's pre-trained and grows moderately, buy the largest size you can — you're paying for years of shaping already done. Mint Julep Juniper Pompom Season-by-Season in Minnesota Spring: Fresh mint-green growth softens the pompom outlines. Late spring is the time for the year's main trim — shape each pad lightly and never cut into bare wood. Summer: Holds its sculpted form through heat and drought with almost no water once established. A quick touch-up trim in early summer keeps the pads crisp. Fall: The dense evergreen pads anchor the garden as everything else goes bare. Water deeply in late October before freeze-up. Winter: This is its star season — snow caps each pompom and the sculptural silhouette carries the whole front bed, reliable to -40°F. At a Glance ✔ Deer-Resistant ✔ Salt-Tolerant ✔ Drought-Tolerant ✔ Evergreen ✔ Four-Season Interest Plant It With Limeglow Juniper — a lime ground-level carpet that contrasts the pompom's mint-green pads. Grey Owl Juniper — silvery spreading texture for the middle layer of the same dry, sunny bed. Jakobsen Mugo Pine — another sculptural evergreen character plant for a collected, Japanese-garden feel. Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass — vertical golden plumes that sway behind the rigid pompom forms. Is Mint Julep Juniper Pompom Right for Your Yard? Give it full sun, sharp drainage, and a spot where its silhouette can be seen — entry beds, rock gardens, courtyards — and it delivers deer-proof, salt-tough, four-season sculpture with minimal water. It's not a fit for shade, soggy ground, or hands-off gardeners: skip the once- or twice-a-year trim and the pompoms slowly blur back into an ordinary spreading juniper.
