Hedgehog spruce Juniperus communis 'Echiniformis'
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- jew-NIP-er-us KOM-yoo-nis
- Description
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Hedgehog juniper , or 'Echiniformis' is a cultivar in the Cupressaceae (cypress) family was introduced by S.J. Rinz nursery in Frankfurt Germany in the late 1880's.
This dwarf specimen is a rounded Chinese juniper in the cypress family with a dense, short branching pattern. This slow-growing plant has a bluish-green color with needle-like juvenile foliage and grows 16 inches high and 16 inches wide.
Grow this plant in full sun in average, well-drained garden soil. It is drought tolerant and prefers being on the dry side.
Use in a rock garden, planted in small groups near a patio, along a slope, in a container, or as a border front. It is commonly used in bonsai or as part of an Asian themed garden.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Insects that may damage this juniper include bagworms, webworms, and scale. Blight and rust issues are common on junipers
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common juniper diseases and insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Juniperus
- Species:
- communis
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Germany
- Play Value:
- Defines Paths
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 4 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 4 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Mounding
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
- Appendage:
- Prickles
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- No fruits, cones.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Prickly
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Short needle-like juvenile blue-green foliage.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Very short, dense branches.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Patio
- Slope/Bank
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Small groups
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
