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Creeping Juniper

Juniperus horizontalis

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Creeping Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis) at Highland Avenue Greenhouse

Creeping Juniper

Creeping Juniper

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  12 inches

Spread:  7 feet

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade 

Hardiness Zone:  2

Description:

Among the hardiest and most beautiful of all groundcover evergreens for the home landscape, typically hugs the ground and wanders in all directions, trailing walls and other vertical structures; adaptable to hot, dry sunny locations and poor soils

Ornamental Features

Creeping Juniper is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the garden for its broadly spreading habit of growth. It has attractive bluish-green evergreen foliage. The scale-like sprays of foliage are highly ornamental and turn plum purple in the fall, which persists throughout the winter. It produces blue berries from late spring to late winter.

Landscape Attributes

Creeping Juniper is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a ground-hugging habit of growth. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which should be used to full effect.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Creeping Juniper is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Mass Planting
  • General Garden Use
  • Groundcover

Planting & Growing

Creeping Juniper will grow to be about 12 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 7 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This species is native to parts of North America.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Massing  Garden  Groundcover 
Applications
Fruit  Foliage Color  Texture  Plant Form  Winter Value 
Ornamental Features