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Alpine Creeping Juniper

Juniperus horizontalis 'Alpina'

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Alpine Creeping Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis 'Alpina') at Classic Landscape Centre

Alpine Creeping Juniper

Alpine Creeping Juniper

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  24 inches

Spread:  5 feet

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade 

Hardiness Zone:  2

Description:

A fine evergreen groundcover for the home landscape, featuring soft grayish green foliage which flows along the ground, trailing walls and other vertical structures; extremely adaptable to hot, dry sunny locations and poor soils

Ornamental Features

Alpine Creeping Juniper is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the garden for its broadly spreading habit of growth. It has attractive powder blue evergreen foliage. The scale-like sprays of foliage are highly ornamental and turn plum purple in the fall, which persists throughout the winter. It produces blue berries from late spring to late winter.

Landscape Attributes

Alpine Creeping Juniper is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a ground-hugging habit of growth. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which should be used to full effect.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Alpine Creeping Juniper is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Mass Planting
  • General Garden Use
  • Groundcover

Planting & Growing

Alpine Creeping Juniper will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for a low-water garden or xeriscape application. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selection of a native North American species.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Massing  Garden  Groundcover 
Applications
Fruit  Foliage Color  Texture  Plant Form  Winter Value 
Ornamental Features