12 named cultivars

shrubN. America Native

Creeping Juniper

The Story

Plant Bio

Juniperus horizontalis, the creeping juniper, is a low needled evergreen shrub native across northern North America and much of Canada. It rarely exceeds 6 to 18 in tall but spreads 4 to 10 ft, laying flat mats of trailing branches over rock and gravel. Foliage is green to blue-green through summer and often takes a purple cast in winter.

It is one of the few evergreens that will hold a dry sunny bank or drape a rock wall without irrigation once rooted. Cones are blue, berry-like and carried on recurved stalks in the second year after pollination, though many named clones never set them. Growth is by long ground-hugging leaders rather than by thickening upwards.

Uses & Benefits:

Flat blue-green mats that shift towards purple in winter, giving low evergreen texture in gravel, rock and coastal plantings.

Binds loose soil on slopes and road banks and suppresses weeds once knitted together, with almost no upkeep after the first year.

Provides dense low cover for ground-feeding birds and small wildlife, and the cones on fertile plants are eaten through winter.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Shrub

Height

14 inches

Width

84 inches

Light

Full Sun

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Water

Low once established

Humidity

Tolerates dry air; dislikes stagnant damp

Lifespan

Long-lived; over 30 years

Native To

Northern North America and Canada

Toxicity

Not classed as poisonous; foliage can irritate skin

Planting

How to Grow

Pick an open site in full sun with sharp drainage.
Space plants 4 to 6 ft apart to allow for the spread.
Plant slightly proud of the surrounding grade on heavy soil.
Mulch with gravel rather than bark to keep stems dry.
Water weekly in the first season, then only in drought.
Trim wayward leaders back to a side branch inside living foliage.

Pro Tip

Gravel mulch instead of bark keeps the trailing stems dry underneath and greatly reduces branch dieback on flat plantings.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Use it to hold a dry bank or spill over a wall 🪨
Keep the crown clear of fallen leaves each autumn 🍁
Space generously so mats meet rather than pile up 📏
Prune back to a live side shoot inside the foliage ✂️

Don't

Do not plant it where soil stays wet or shaded ❌
Do not walk on the mats; crushed stems do not recover ❌
Do not let bark mulch pile up over the trailing stems ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Check For Bagworms
Prune Dead Tips

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Evergreen ground cover for dry banks and slopesTrailing plant to soften rock walls and raised bedsLow-maintenance mass planting in gravel and coastal gardens

Companion Plants

Bearberry Blue fescue Autumn stonecrop Little bluestem Creeping phlox

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Creeping Juniper questions

What zones can Creeping Juniper grow in?

Creeping Juniper is hardy in USDA Zones 4–9. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Creeping Juniper deer resistant?

Yes — Creeping Juniper is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Creeping Juniper bloom?

Creeping Juniper typically blooms in spring to summer, insignificant. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Creeping Juniper need full sun?

Creeping Juniper does best in full sun (6+ hours).

Is Creeping Juniper drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Creeping Juniper handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.