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Home > Juniper > Creeping Juniper

Creeping Juniper

Creeping juniper is a species of graceful, aromatic, low-growing, evergreen shrubby conifers native to the boreal and subarctic regions in North America, though some populations are also scattered further south in America. Featuring plume-like horizontal branches, the creeping junipers have blue-green foliage in both spring and summer, turning into dark purple in winter.

Creeping Juniper

Creeping Juniper

Scientific Classification

KingdomPlantae
DivisionPinophyta
ClassPinopsida
OrderPinales
FamilyCupressaceae
GenusJuniperus
Scientific NameJuniperus horizontalis
Creeping Junipers

Creeping Junipers

Creeping Juniper Bonsai

Creeping Juniper Bonsai

Quick Information

Other NamesTrailing juniper, creeping cedar, creeping savin juniper
Other Related SpeciesJuniperus virginiana, Juniperus scopulorum
Size10-30 cm tall, spread 1.8-3.1 m (6-10 ft) wide
LeavesOccur in opposite crossed pairs, sometimes forming whorls of three; scale-like adult leaves (1-2 mm long, 1-1.5 mm broad) and needle-like juvenile leaves (5-10 mm long)
ConesBerry-like, globular to bilobate, diameter of 5-7 mm, dark blue with bluish-white flowers having a waxy texture, usually contain 2 seeds, male cones have a length of 2-4 mm, pollens  are shed in spring
BarkReddish brown, peeled, difficult to spot due to overlapping branches
Distribution/RangeAlberta, Labrador, British Columbia, Newfoundland I, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Yukon, Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Northern Territories (in Canada); Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Massachusetts, Montana, Minnesota, Colorado, New York, Vermont, Wyoming, Wisconsin, North and South Dakota (in the US)
Hardiness Zones3-10
Growth RateMedium with an annual increase of about 4.6 cm
LifespanModerate
Growing ConditionsWinter Conditions: Arid, cold climate with average January temperature of -14.5 °C to -10 °C

Summer Conditions: Typically dry with great variations in diurnal and annual temperatures; average July temperature is 18.8 °C, tolerates summer drought conditions

Rain: Needs low/moderate amount of rainfall, grows in areas with average yearly precipitation of 12.9-18 inches

Sunlight: Grows well under full sun; tolerant to partial sunlight but may have thin foliage

Soil Requirements: Medium moist, well-drained, dry, sandy, loamy, acidic or slightly alkaline

Diseases and PestsAffected by root rots, phomopsis dieback, foliage blight, cedar apple rust; serious pests including juniper scale, juniper webworm, twig borers, bagworms
PollinationThrough wind
Breeding SystemDioecious
Seed ProductionPoor seed producer; seeds are dispersed by wind and wildlife
DevelopmentStaminate/pistillate cones are produced in the spring; they mature in summer/early fall
Wildlife ValueMule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn, and other small mammals feed on this plant; birds such as rose-breasted grosbeaks, yellow warblers, clay-colored sparrows, catbirds, blue jays, black-billed cuckoos, chipping sparrows, and brown thrashers use creeping juniper habitats
UsesCultivars are used in horticulture and landscaping, makes a great ground cover in rockeries and on sandy soils; also used for erosion control
IUCN Conservation StatusLeast Concern
Creeping Juniper Groundcover

Creeping Juniper Groundcover

Creeping Juniper Pictures

Creeping Juniper Pictures

Cultivars/Varieties

  • ‘Wiltonii’: Also called the ‘Blue Rug,’ the prostrate juniper has bluish foliage with a diameter of 5 ft and height of 4-6 inches.
  • ‘Plumosa’ or ‘Andorra Juniper’: This variety of junipers is widely used in landscaping despite being highly susceptible to blight. It has a spread of 10 ft and grows up to 2 ft tall.
  • ‘Bar Harbor’: Originating from Mount Desert Island, this juniper plant is an excellent prostate groundcover. It grows 1 ft high and spreads to about 6 ft.
  • ‘Blue Prince’: This flat-growing variety with fine blue needles grows 6 inches high and spreads up to 5 ft.

There are other cultivars including ‘Blue Chip’, ’Mother Lode’, ’Hughes’, ’Monber’, and ‘Prince of Wales’.

Creeping Juaniper Leaf

Creeping Juaniper Leaf

Interesting Facts

  • The berry-like seed cones of creeping juniper plants were used by the Native Americans for making an infusion to treat colds, sore throats, and kidney diseases.
Creeping Juniper Plant

Creeping Juniper Plant

References

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juniperus_horizontalis
  2. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/shrubs/juniper/growing-creeping-junipers.htm
  3. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=233500732
  4. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/42237/2965318
  5. https://hles.unl.edu/creeping-juniper

Published on April 23rd 2016 by admin under Juniper.
Article was last reviewed on 26th June 2023.

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