Plant DetailShow Menu

Native alternative(s) for Juniperus horizontalis 'Wiltonii':
Juniperus communis var. depressa Juniperus comunis var. depressa
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Erica carnea Erica carnea 'Challenger'
Juniperus horizontalis 'Plumosa' Planted near a walkway.
Salvia rosmarinus Rosmarinus officinalis
Juniperus horizontalis 'Wiltonii' has some common insect problems:
Juniper Pest Management Calendar
Pests of Conifers

Juniperus horizontalis 'Wiltonii'

Common Name(s):

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

'Wiltonii' is a low-growing, woody, needled evergreen shrub in the Cupressaceae (cypress) family. The parent plant is native to the northern part of North America. This cultivar is from a natural mutation discovered in Maine by Jacob van Heiningen of South Wilton, Connecticut, in the United States. The showy blue needles and its coverage give it the common name blue rug.

It grows as a dense, creeping form to a diminutive height of 4 to 6 inches and width of 4 to 6 feet. This plant prefers full sun and well-drained, acidic to slightly alkaline soils. It is drought and deer tolerant, wind tolerant, fairly salt tolerant, and grows well in coastal conditions. It tolerates hot weather, moderately poor soils, and many air pollutants found in urban areas. It will adapt to the cold, snow, and frost of North Carolina’s colder regions. It also performs well in high desert locations where the temperatures fluctuate rapidly.

Blue rug juniper takes on a purple tinge in winter.

Many juniper varieties require moisture and cannot survive on sunny slopes where runoff can leave the soil dry. 'Wiltonii' does not require the moisture of other cultivars, making it a great solution for dry, sunny, sloped conditions, or in a drought-tolerant garden. Place along a retaining wall, in the front of a border, or along a walkway or patio where the foliage will provide year-round cover and interest.

Quick ID Hints:

  • 100% of leaves are scale leaves and silver-blue in color
  • Leaves grow on only one side of stems
  • Spray is fine-textured and plume-like
  • Branches are long and floppy, forming dense mats
  • The plant produces female cones that are 1/4" in diameter, globose, bluish or greenish-black, and glaucous

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Creeping juniper is subject to infestation by aphids, bagworms, caterpillars, false spider mites, juniper and other scales, juniper tip mite, juniper webworm, and spruce spider mites. 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#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#blue needles#salt tolerant#winter interest#air pollution tolerant#erosion control#year-round interest#fast growing#wind tolerant#well-drained soil#deer resistant#frost tolerant#groundcover#rock garden#fantz#evergreen shrub#poor soils tolerant#evergreen groundcover#border front#walkway planting#urban conditions tolerant#rocky soils tolerant#garden walls#dry soils tolerant#purple needles#patio#cpp
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#blue needles#salt tolerant#winter interest#air pollution tolerant#erosion control#year-round interest#fast growing#wind tolerant#well-drained soil#deer resistant#frost tolerant#groundcover#rock garden#fantz#evergreen shrub#poor soils tolerant#evergreen groundcover#border front#walkway planting#urban conditions tolerant#rocky soils tolerant#garden walls#dry soils tolerant#purple needles#patio#cpp
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Juniperus
    Species:
    horizontalis
    Family:
    Cupressaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
    Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Creeping
    Prostrate
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    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:
    12 inches-3 feet
    3 feet-6 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Blue
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    No fruits. Plant produces female cones that are 1/4" in diameter, globose, and bluish or greenish-black and glaucous in color.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Description:
    No flowers
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Gray/Silver
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Purple/Lavender
    Leaf Type:
    Needles
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    All leaves are scale leaves. They are intense silver-blue in color, are closely appressed to stem, and grow on only one side of the stem. The spray is fine-textured and plume-like. Needels turn purplish in the winter.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Branches are very long and floppy and form large, dense mats.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Patio
    Rock Wall
    Slope/Bank
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Rock Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Mass Planting
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Erosion
    Salt
    Urban Conditions
    Wind