Botanical Name: Juniperus horizontalis
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Common Name: Creeping Juniper  
Plant photo of: Juniperus horizontalis
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Water Saving Tip:

Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Conifer, Shrub, Ground cover

 

Height Range

1-3'

 

Flower Color

n/a

 

Flower Season

n/a

 

Leaf Color

Green, Blue Green

 

Bark Color

Brown, Red

 

Fruit Color

n/a

 

Fruit Season

n/a

Sun

Full

 

Water

Low, Medium

 

Growth Rate

Moderate

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam, Rocky, Unparticular

 

Soil Condition

Average, Rich, Poor, Well-drained, Dry

 

Soil pH

Neutral

 

Adverse Factors

n/a

Design Styles

Formal, Mediterranean, Ranch

 

Accenting Features

n/a

 

Seasonal Interest

Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall

 

Location Uses

Background, Shrub Border, Parking Strip, Parking Lot, Raised Planter, Walls / Fences, With Rocks

 

Special Uses

Cascade, Container, Erosion Control

 

Attracts Wildlife

n/a

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer:
  • Description

  • Notes

Creeping junipers are generally dense, low growing evergreen shrubs with long, flexible branches, growing about 1 to 2 feet tall and 4 to 8 feet wide. Color ranges from green to blue-green to steel blue, depending on the variety. This is a tough group of juniper and is well suited as a large area ground cover, or to cascade over walls and rocks. It can also be used to espalier or be staked up to create sort of an odd, upright, mounding juniper-art thing.
Grow in any soil that is well draining, including sandy, gravelly, or clay soils, but they must be well draining. Best growth in full sun. Once established, it tolerates dry soils and heat. Avoid shearing, as that will made the juniper woody and stiff; instead, prune selectively if necessary (see Guides).