| General Description | Microbiota decussata is a wide-spreading woody evergreen shrub with gracefully nodding shoot tips. It is very similar in appearance to a juniper but with a softer texture. |
| ID Characteristic | Prostrate with a distinctive rusty-brown colour in winter, fern-like the rest of the year. |
| Landscape | Makes en excellent ground cover, best used in masses and groupings to realize the full effect of its soft foliage, an excellent substitute for junipers. |
| Propagation | By cuttings rooted from August through January collected with at least 2.5 cm of the previous season's wood. It has been found that .8% IBA talc or .25% IBA in alcohol increases the rooting percentage and consistency of the crop. |
| Cultivation | Grow in part shade, in moist, well-drained soil. Light pruning will keep it in bounds however it will not tolerate heavy pruning. |
| Pests | No serious pests or diseases of note. |
| Notable Specimens | The Gardens of Fanshawe College, London, Ontario, Canada. |
| Habitat | Russia, growing above the tree line in the mountains of Southeastern Siberia. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Slender stems are brown. |
| Leaf Description | Needles are scale-like, overlapping like shingles on a roof, shoot tips droop. |
| Flower Description | Monoecious, with the flower of no ornamental value. |
| Fruit Description | Male produces inconspicuous cones. |
| Colour Description | Summer foliage is bright green turning a consistent brownish-purple colour in winter. |
| Texture Description | Foliage is scale-like, feathery and relatively soft to the touch. |
