Creeping Juniper

Juniperus horizontalis (Cupressaceae) is a prostrate evergreen conifer native to northern North America from Nova Scotia to British Columbia and south to New York, Minnesota, and Montana. It trails to about 1 foot tall and 10 feet wide, with abundant short branchlets forming large, dense mats. The soft-textured foliage is mostly scale-like (about 2 mm) with some awl-shaped leaves in opposite pairs. Color ranges from green to blue-green in summer, turning plum purple in winter.

Creeping juniper thrives in full sun and adapts to a wide range of soils including heavy clay, though it dislikes wet conditions. It excels in poor, sandy ground where other plants struggle. Cultivars offer a range of heights and colors: 'Bar Harbor' (1 foot, blue-gray), 'Blue Chip' (1 foot, silvery blue), 'Wiltonii' (4 inches, ultra-low), 'Gold Strike' (3 feet, yellow), and 'Prince of Wales' (8 inches). Note that 'Bar Harbor' and 'Gold Strike' show particular susceptibility to Phomopsis and Kabatina blights. Hardy in Zones 3a to 8b.