Plant DetailShow Menu

Native alternative(s) for Juniperus horizontalis 'Bar Harbor':
Juniperus communis var. depressa Juniperus comunis var. depressa
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Juniperus horizontalis 'Limeglow' Juniperus horizontalis 'Lime Glow'
Juniperus horizontalis 'Plumosa' Planted near a walkway.
Juniperus horizontalis 'Wiltonii' Form
Juniperus horizontalis 'Bar Harbor' has some common insect problems:
Juniper Webworm
Pests of Conifers

Juniperus horizontalis 'Bar Harbor'

Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
jew-NIP-er-us hor-ih-zon-TAL-iss BAR HAR-bor
Description

'Bar Harbor’ juniper is a low-growing, needled evergreen shrub or groundcover in the Cupressaceae (cypress) family. The parent plant is native to the northern part of North America. Its species name horizentalis refers to the tendency of its long, trailing branches to spread much farther horizontally than it grows vertically.

The parent plant is found growing in rocky or sandy soils from rocky outcrops to streams, making this shrub fairly adaptable to various soil types and pH as long as the soil is well drained. ‘Bar Harbor’ is drought and deer tolerant, fairly salt tolerant, and grows well in coastal conditions. It prefers full sun and tolerates hot weather, moderately poor soils, and many air pollutants found in urban areas.This juniper grows to about 1 foot in height and spreads to a width of 6 to 8 feet. Plant 6 to 8 feet apart. It can be severely pruned without damaging the plant.

This cultivar, which is typically male, has gray-green or blue-green foliage in the summer that becomes a reddish-purple in the winter. 

‘Bar Harbor’ is a versatile plant that is not too dense. Use this cultivar as a ground cover on slopes, where it can help control soil erosion, or in rock gardens or retaining walls.  Its horizontal form makes it ideal to plant along a walkway or near a patio.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Like most junipers, 'Bar Harbor' is subject to infestation by aphids, bagworms, caterpillars, false spider mites, spruce spider mites, juniper tip mites, juniper and other scales, and juniper webworm. It is also susceptible to blights and some fungal diseases. A wet location may cause root rot.

The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common juniper diseases and insect pests.

VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

More information on Juniperus horizontalis.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#drought tolerant#blue green needles#winter interest#slopes#air pollution tolerant#erosion control#salt spray tolerant#deer resistant#poor soils tolerant#walkway planting#rocky soils tolerant#garden walls#dry soils tolerant#wet soils intolerant#coastal plant#patio
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#drought tolerant#blue green needles#winter interest#slopes#air pollution tolerant#erosion control#salt spray tolerant#deer resistant#poor soils tolerant#walkway planting#rocky soils tolerant#garden walls#dry soils tolerant#wet soils intolerant#coastal plant#patio
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Juniperus
    Species:
    horizontalis
    Family:
    Cupressaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Horizontal
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Fine
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Available Space To Plant:
    6-feet-12 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Blue
    Fruit Description:
    No fruits. Dark blue cones are formed. They are referred to as juniper berries. They are not common on cultivated plants.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Description:
    No flowers.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    White
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Needles
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Very small, tightly appressed, awl-shaped scale-like leaves. Deep grass green color. Coated with white glaucous bloom giving a gray-green or blue-greenappearance. Mauve winter color.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Thin, flexible stems
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Patio
    Slope/Bank
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Heat
    Pollution
    Poor Soil
    Urban Conditions