We have recently published ‘Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions’: i.e. tropical and sub-tropical regions. We rely on regular donations to keep our free database going and help fund development of this and another book we are planning on food forest plants for Mediterranean climates. Please give what you can to keep PFAF properly funded. More >>>

Follow Us:

 

Juniperus horizontalis - Moench.

Common Name Creeping Juniper, Horizontal Juniper
Family Cupressaceae
USDA hardiness 4-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Dry rocky soil, sterile pastures and fields[204].
Range Northern N. America - Newfoundland to British Columbia, south to Washington and Maine.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Juniperus horizontalis Creeping Juniper, Horizontal Juniper


Juniperus horizontalis Creeping Juniper, Horizontal Juniper
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:SriMesh

 

Translate this page:

Summary

Bloom Color: Blue.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Juniperus horizontalis is an evergreen Shrub growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 3 m (9ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. It is in leaf all year, and the seeds ripen in October. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). and is pollinated by Wind. The plant is not self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline and saline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

 Ground Cover;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts:
Edible Uses: Coffee  Tea

The fruits are roasted and used in the preparation of a coffee-like beverage[183]. A tea is made from the young branch tips[183, 257].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Diaphoretic  Febrifuge  Kidney

An infusion of the branches, or fleshy cones, has been used in the treatment of coughs, colds and fevers[257]. The cones or branches can also be used as a steam bath[257]. An infusion of the seeds has been used in the treatment of kidney problems[257].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

The Bookshop: Edible Plant Books

Our Latest books on Perennial Plants For Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens in paperback or digital formats.

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Tropical Plants

Food Forest Plants for Hotter Conditions: 250+ Plants For Tropical Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.
Edible Temperate Plants

Plants for Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests & Permaculture Gardens.

More
PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital media.
More Books

PFAF have eight books available in paperback and digital formats. Browse the shop for more information.

Shop Now

Other Uses

Baby care  Incense

Landscape Uses: Cascades, Erosion control, Ground cover, Massing, Rock garden, Seashore. A good ground cover plant for a sunny position[208], eventually making a dense cover though it requires weeding for the first year or so[197]. The bark has been crushed and used as a soft hygienic pad in cradles[257]. It has also been used to make mats[257]. The young twigs and leaves have been burnt as an incense[257].

Special Uses

Food Forest  Ground cover

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Succeeds in a sunny position in most soils so long as they are well drained, preferring a neutral or slightly alkaline soil[11] and succeeding on chalk[200]. Succeeds in dry soils[200]. An aggregate species[204]. There are many named varieties selected for their ornamental value[200]. 'Bar Harbour' is very salt-resistant[200]. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required. Special Features: North American native, Fragrant foliage, Inconspicuous flowers or blooms. In garden design, as well as the above-ground architecture of a plant, root structure considerations help in choosing plants that work together for their optimal soil requirements including nutrients and water. The root pattern is flat with shallow roots spreading near the soil surface [2-1].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

image

The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees,Edible Shrubs, Woodland Gardening, and Temperate Food Forest Plants. Our new book is Food Forest Plants For Hotter Conditions (Tropical and Sub-Tropical).

Shop Now

Plant Propagation

The seed requires a period of cold stratification. The seed has a hard seedcoat and can be very slow to germinate, requiring a cold period followed by a warm period and then another cold spell, each of 2 - 3 months duration[78, 81]. Soaking the seed for 3 - 6 seconds in boiling water may speed up the germination process[11]. The seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Some might germinate in the following spring, though most will take another year. Another possibility is to harvest the seed 'green' (when the embryo has fully formed but before the seedcoat has hardened). The seedlings can be potted up into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Grow on in pots until large enough, then plant out in early summer. When stored dry, the seed can remain viable for several years[1]. Cuttings of mature wood, 5 - 10cm with a heel, September/October in a cold frame. Plant out in the following autumn[1, 78]. Layering in September/October. Takes 12 months[78].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Northwest Territories, Yukon (southeast), Québec, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia), United States (Alaska, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan (north), New York, Vermont, Illinois (north), Iowa (north), Minnesota, Nebraska (northwest), North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Montana, Wyoming)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Juniperus asheiAshe Juniper, Mountain CedarTree6.0 7-9 SLMHNDM102
Juniperus californicaCalifornian Juniper, ChuperosaTree12.0 8-10 SLMHNDM212
Juniperus chinensisChinese Juniper, Sargent juniperTree15.0 4-10 SLMHNDM023
Juniperus communisJuniper, Common juniperShrub9.0 4-10 SLMHSNDM334
Juniperus communis nanaJuniperShrub0.5 4-10 SLMHSNDM334
Juniperus confertaShore JuniperShrub0.2 6-10 SLMHSNDM203
Juniperus deppeanaAlligator JuniperTree18.0 7-9 SLMHNDM302
Juniperus drupaceaSyrian JuniperTree15.0 6-9 MLMHNDM30 
Juniperus excelsaGrecian JuniperTree20.0 5-9  LMHNDM213
Juniperus monospermaOne-Seed JuniperTree18.0 4-8 MLMHNDM323
Juniperus occidentalisWestern JuniperTree18.0 4-8 SLMHNDM323
Juniperus osteospermaDesert Juniper, Utah juniperTree12.0 4-8 SLMHNDM223
Juniperus oxycedrusPrickly Juniper, Cade juniperTree15.0 8-10 MLMHNDM012
Juniperus recurvaHimalayan JuniperTree12.0 6-9 SLMHNM111
Juniperus rigidaTemple Juniper, Needle JuniperTree8.0 6-7 SLMHNDM213
Juniperus sabinaSavine, Tam JuniperShrub4.0 4-7 SLMHNDM024
Juniperus scopulorumRocky Mountain Juniper, Weeping Rocky Mountian Juniper, Colorado Red CedarTree10.0 3-7 SLMHNDM324
Juniperus silicicolaSouthern Redcedar, Juniper, Southern Red CedarTree20.0 7-10 SLMHNDM223
Juniperus squamataFlaky JuniperShrub4.0 4-7 SLMHNDM013
Juniperus tetragona Tree0.0 7-10  LMHNDM202
Juniperus virginianaPencil Cedar, Eastern redcedar, Southern redcedar, Silver Cedar, Burk Eastern Red Cedar, Silver EastTree20.0 3-9 SLMHNDM224

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Moench.

Botanical References

200204

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Ben Frederick   Wed May 31 2006

Is there any week killer that you know of that will not harm these Juniper plants? Thnaks!

Rae Hendry   Thu Sep 6 2007

A warning to all dog owners! I have just paid over £300.00 to have a piece of this vicious plant removed from under my labrador's skin, where it had worked its way in and caused an adverse reaction, resulting in considerable pain, a huge operation wound and several weeks of housebound convalescence. Don't grow this plant if you have dogs!

Add a comment

If you have important information about this plant that may help other users please add a comment or link below. Only comments or links that are felt to be directly relevant to a plant will be included. If you think a comment/link or information contained on this page is inaccurate or misleading we would welcome your feedback at [email protected]. If you have questions about a plant please use the Forum on this website as we do not have the resources to answer questions ourselves.

* Please note: the comments by website users are not necessarily those held by PFAF and may give misleading or inaccurate information.

To leave a comment please Register or login here All comments need to be approved so will not appear immediately.

Subject : Juniperus horizontalis  
© 2010, Plants For A Future. Plants For A Future is a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Charity No. 1057719, Company No. 3204567.