Other Names:  Spreading Juniper

Description:

A rich groundcover evergreen with a dense uniform growth habit; excellent for large scale areas; a low wide spreading form with steel blue foliage that turns grayish-purple in winter; excellent for erosion control

Ornamental Features

Douglas Juniper is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the garden for its broadly spreading habit of growth. It has attractive steel blue evergreen foliage. The scale-like sprays of foliage are highly ornamental and turn purple in the fall, which persists throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Douglas 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.

Douglas Juniper is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover

Planting & Growing

Douglas Juniper will grow to be about 14 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 10 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.