A wide spreading, softer ground cover Juniper turning plume color in the winter.
Pronunciation
(ju-NIP-er-us) (hor-i-zon-TA-lis)
Plant Type
All Plants, Shrubs Coniferous
Hardiness Zone
4-9
Sunlight
full
Moisture
average will tolerate some dryness when established
Soil & Site
average
Flowers
inconspicuous and not ornamental, a male plant
Leaves
depending on the amount of sun, blue to gray green, plum in the winter
Dimensions
1-2 feet high spread over 8 feet, space 6 feet on center
Maintenance
It is difficult to properly prune ground cover Junipers. Most people just cut the ends and after a few years pointed stubbed branches form. Lift up the outside branches cutting the underneath branches and feather back the top branches to a crotch of a branch. This will develop into a much softer outside edge of the shrub. Also they will have branches that just seem to die for no apparent reason and these will need to be cut out using pruning shears.
Propagation
cuttings
Cultivar Origin
Introduced in 1907 by the Andorra Nursery of Philadelphia (USA).
Author's Notes
This is a Juniper that is hardy most of the time in zone #5. Early in my landscaping career I have seen when they have been severely damaged by cold or early on set of cold. Now with global warming and our are has been bumped up 1/2 hardiness zone, I haven't seen this happen in many years. (2013)
Notes & Reference
#01-Manual of Woody Landscape Plants (Michael Dirr)