Juniperus communis 'Compressa'

The best dwarf columnar plant for trough or rock gardens.  If you want an "exclamation point" for interest, this is the plant. The foliage is so tight, it appears to be almost solid.  Easy to grow and reaching 5ft tall and 1ft wide in 10 years.  It could be good in a container near the entrance to your home.  Junipers also provide a feast of berrylike cones for species of birds like waxwings, robins, bluebirds and sparrows.