Woody > Juniperus > Juniperus horizontalis > Juniperus horizontalis 'Wiltonii'
Juniperus horizontalis
'Wiltonii'
Wilton Juniper, Blue Rug Juniper
Origin: Found on Vinalhaven Island off the coast of Maine in 1914; introduced to the market by South Wilton Nurseries, Wilton, Connecticut, United States of America. It as become a very popular cultivar in North America and Europe.
Mike's
Opinion
"
Along with all the beneficial characteristics of a Creeping Juniper, ‘Wiltonii’ brings an attractive silver hue and its fast rate of growth to a landscape. Easily adaptable to most soil conditions and requiring little water, ‘Wiltonii’ is a choice groundcover.
Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)
"
| Family |
| Cupressaceae |
| Genus |
| Juniperus |
| Species |
| horizontalis |
| Cultivar |
| 'Wiltonii' |
| Category |
| Woody |
| Type |
| Shrub (evergreen) |
| Synonyms |
| Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Rug' |
| Pronunciation |
| USDA Hardiness Zone |
| 3 - 9 |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone |
| 2 |
| RHS Hardiness Zone |
| H4 - H7 |
| Temperature (°C) |
| (-40) - (-1) |
| Temperature (°F) |
| (-40) - 30 |
| Height |
| 10-15 cm |
| Spread |
| 1-1.5 m |
Photographs
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
| General Description |
| One of many J. horizontalis cultivars, ‘Wiltonii’ has made a name for itself since its discovery. The lowest growing of its species, it is the benchmark for other cultivars. Renowned for its low maintenance. |
| Landscape |
| Great groundcover, used for erosion control and looks great in planters, rock gardens and masses as well as cascading over retaining walls. |
| Cultivation |
| Tolerates heavy, slightly alkaline soils. Container grown plants transplant with good rate of success into hot and dry conditions. Requires full sun. |
| Shape |
| Extends long branches over its surrounding area forming a low growing ground cover like a rug. |
| Growth |
| Medium |
| ID Characteristic |
| Dense forming ground cover with silver hued awl like foliage that turns purplish in the winter. Lower growing than other cultivars with visibility of plant limbs minimal. |
| Pests |
| Prone to juniper blight and spider mites. |
| Habitat |
| Horticultural origin. |
| Bark/Stem Description |
| Reddish-brown and hardly visible due to dense foliage form. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description |
| Present in winter though inconspicuous. |
| Leaf Description |
| Soft textured, majority are scale like, roughly 5 mm long, ovate to oblong in shape with depressions on undersides, bright silver-blue colour fading to a light purple in winter. |
| Flower Description |
| Dioecious, inconspicuous with no ornamental value. |
| Fruit Description |
| Uncommon on cultivated specimens, bluish berry like cones found on recurved stalks, 2-3 seeds, roughly 75 mm across. |
| Colour Description |
| Bright silver-blue in spring and summer and gaining a purple tinge towards the winter, bark and flower colour limited due to dense foliage, fruit is small and blue in colour. |
| Texture Description |
| Medium to fine. |
| Notable Specimens |
| The Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens, Niagara Falls, Ontario. |
| Propagation |
| Cuttings are taken in late autumn and winter then rooted into under mist. |
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