Horizontal, or prostrate juniper

Occurs in North America, widely distributed across most of Canada. In the wild it grows in mountains and on the sandy shores of large lakes.

A prostrate evergreen shrub, usually dioecious. Plants reach about 10—30 cm in height. The berry-like cones are dark blue (almost black), up to 6 mm long, spherical. They ripen in the second year. Foliage is green, 1–8 mm long, with two stomatal lines. The wood is resistant to rot. Very decorative in plantings. More than 100 different cultivars have been bred for use as ornamental garden plants.


In cultivation:

«Winter Blue»

A low-growing shrub reaching 0.2 - 0.3 m in height and 1.5 m in width. Foliage is silvery-green, taking on an intense blue tint in winter. Prefers sunny locations. Grows well on any soil. A valuable groundcover plant. Recommended for home gardens, rock gardens, etc.

«Wiltonii»

Carpet-forming, very slow-growing, up to 10 cm high, densely branched. Needles are often awl-shaped, very small, silvery-blue. Discovered around 1914 by J. van Heijnen (J. van Heeningen) in South Wilton, Connecticut on Vinalhaven Island, Maine. Because of its small size and attractive color it is considered an excellent garden plant. Propagated by cuttings (87 - 91%). Due to its low habit and striking foliage color it is very decorative. Recommended for green roofs, container growing, and rock gardens, where planting in large groups is preferable.

«Plumosa»

Prostrate, 30-50 cm high, 2—2.5 m wide, older plants have up to 60 cm width in the center. Branches lie on the ground, shoots rise at about a 45° angle; branches are feathery. Needles all awl-shaped, very densely arranged and not tightly appressed, light gray-green in autumn, with a distinct purple tint in winter. Discovered in the USA in 1907. In 1916.


«Prince of Wales»

A shrub 20-30 cm high, crown diameter 2.5 m. Prostrate, ornamental habit. Bark gray-brown. Foliage scaly, dense, blue, becoming reddish in winter. Grows slowly. Long-lived. Light-loving, but tolerates slight shading. Prefers fairly moist, sandy soils. Frost-hardy. Uses: single and group plantings on rockeries. Also used as a groundcover plant.

«Icee Blue»

A sport of the 'Wiltonii' cultivar. Dwarf form with a medium growth rate. Height up to 15 cm, width up to 2.4 m. An evergreen shrub with very flexible and long trailing shoots forming a bluish-green dense carpet. Small berry-like cones with a bluish bloom, 5-7 mm in diameter. Foliage scaly, bluish-green, acquiring a purple-plum tint in winter. Sun-loving. Prefers fairly moist, sandy soils; grows poorly on heavy soils. Winter-hardy, tolerant of heat and drought, not demanding with respect to soil pH. Transplants easily and adapts well.

«Limeglow»

A broad, dense shrub with a vase shape reaching 0.4 m in height and 1.2 m in diameter. Increases by up to 8 cm per year. Needles have an intense golden-yellow color in summer and brownish-yellow in winter. Foliage is not sensitive to spring burn. In dry and hot summer weather it can suffer sun damage. Grows well on any soil; on sunny sites the yellow coloration is more intense. Recommended for rock gardens, heather gardens, home gardens and color compositions.

«Glauca»

Appearance creeping, inclined; main branches straight, at first lying tightly on the ground, later in the center the branches layer one on another, reaching 30 cm in length; twigs numerous, 2 mm thick, directed forward, because of the closely appressed leaves they appear threadlike and bluish-steel in color, not changing color in winter. Leaves awl-shaped, located mainly in the center of the plant and on weaker shoots, four-ranked, closely appressed to each other. Color does not change in winter. Grows slowly, prefers fresh, well-drained, poor soils. Moisture-loving. Light-loving. Suffers from dry air and high temperatures. Does not tolerate transplanting well. A valuable groundcover plant. Propagated by cuttings (80%), seeds, and layers. Introduced into cultivation in 1939 at the Arnold Arboretum (USA) as a result of selection. Recommended for green roofs; can be displayed in containers outdoors and in building interiors; suitable for rock areas and road embankments.

Agronomy: suffers from dry air, undemanding regarding soil fertility. Grows slowly, especially in the first years. Transplanting is best done in spring with preservation of the root ball. Develops well in urban conditions. Winter-hardy. Propagated by seeds and cuttings. In terms of ornamental value it is not inferior to other prostrate species of this genus. Promising for covering slopes and rocks. For rock gardens and home plots. Especially attractive in spring, when the bluish or steel coloration of the foliage is more pronounced. Known in cultivation since 1840.