Juniperus horizontalis (Creeping Juniper)

Botanical Information

FamilyCupressaceae
GenusJuniperus
Specieshorizontalis
CategoryWoody
TypeShrub (evergreen)
OriginNorth America, Eastern Canada.
Pronunciation

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone3 - 9
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness Zone1a - Requires cool season protection under glass.
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH3 - H7
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)-40 - (-1)
Temperature (°F)-40 - 30
Height10 - 30 cm
Spread2 - 4 m
GrowthMedium

Description and Growing Information

General DescriptionA non-flowering evergreen shrub that spreads through long, trailing branches to form a dense, wide mat.
ShapeMat-forming habit.
LandscapeGreat as ground cover, or for retaining wall edges.
PropagationPropagate by cuttings.
CultivationGrow in full sun in an average, moderately moist and well-drained soil. Fairly tolerant of city pollution and dry conditions, but will not tolerate wet soils.
PestsSomewhat susceptible to blights, rust, root rot, aphids and spider mites. Many of these problems are exacerbated by wet conditions. It is important to watch out for tent caterpillars (Dichomeris marginella). Older plants may die back in the centre.
Notable SpecimensCape Spear, Newfoundland, Canada.
HabitatFound on rock outcroppings, stony slopes, coastal cliffs, prairies, and in many other rocky or sandy soils.
Leaf DescriptionThe leaves are arranged in opposite decussate pairs, or occasionally in whorls of three; the adult leaves are scale-like, 1-2 mm long (to 8 mm on lead shoots) and 1-1.5 mm broad. The juvenile leaves, on young seedlings only, are needle-like, 5-10 mm.
Fruit DescriptionThe cones are berry-like, globose to bilobed, 5-7 mm in diameter, dark blue with a pale blue-white waxy bloom, and contain two seeds (rarely one or three); they usually have a curved stem and are mature in about 18 months. The male cones are 2-4 mm in length.

Photographs