Juniperus x pfitzeriana
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Juniperus x media
- Phonetic Spelling
- joo-NIP-er-us fit-zehr-ee-AYE-nuh
- Description
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A wide-spreading, compact, evergreen shrub in the Cupressaceae family that works well as a hedge, a foundation planting, or in a rock garden. Some cultivars remain short enough to serve as a spreading groundcover. Juniperus x pfitzeriana is a hybrid that includes certain cultivars that are crosses between Juniperus chinensis and Juniperus sabina. The foliage has scale-like leaves and is fragrant when crushed. The branches, which stand at a 45-degree angle from the trunk, provide winter interest as they stay green throughout the season.
Juniperus x pfitzeriana prefers a site with average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. It tolerates a variety of conditions from urban to seaside such as drought, erosion, dry, shallow-rocky, or clay soil, and air pollution. However, it is intolerant of wet soils. Pruning helps to maintain its compact habit. It is seldom damaged by deer.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Occasional insect pests include aphids, bagworms, webworms, and scale. Junipers are generally susceptible to tip and needle blights. Cedar-apple rust and related rust diseases spend part of their life cycle on junipers. Root rot may occur, particularly in wet, poorly drained soils. Canker may attack bark or main stems.
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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- 'Blue and Gold'
Strong-growing mutation from 'Pfitzeriana Glauca' with blue-green foliage with occasional golden shoots - 'Daubs Frosted'
Dwarf spreading plant with chartreuse foliage & yellow new growth. - 'Glauca'
Glaucous, blue-gray foliage
'Gold Coast'
- 'Hetzii'
Medium size; spreading, blue-gray foliage. - 'Old Gold'
Popular; medium spreading shrub; gold foliage year-round; sport of 'Pfitzeriana Aurea' - 'Pfitzeriana Aurea'
Large, spreading shrub; golden foliage that turns chartreuse in winter; sport of 'Wilhelm Pfitzer'
'Pfitzeriana Compacta'
- 'Sea Green'
Dwarf; mounding, arching & weeping form; dense foliage; takes pruning well - 'Wilhelm Pfitzer'
Large spreading shrub; widely available. Green adult & juvenile foliage mixed together.
Golden needles
Graceful gray-green foliage - 'Blue and Gold'
- 'Blue and Gold', 'Daubs Frosted', 'Glauca', 'Gold Coast', 'Hetzii', 'Old Gold', 'Pfitzeriana Aurea', 'Pfitzeriana Compacta', 'Sea Green', 'Wilhelm Pfitzer'
- Tags:








- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Blue and Gold'
Strong-growing mutation from 'Pfitzeriana Glauca' with blue-green foliage with occasional golden shoots - 'Daubs Frosted'
Dwarf spreading plant with chartreuse foliage & yellow new growth. - 'Glauca'
Glaucous, blue-gray foliage
'Gold Coast'
- 'Hetzii'
Medium size; spreading, blue-gray foliage. - 'Old Gold'
Popular; medium spreading shrub; gold foliage year-round; sport of 'Pfitzeriana Aurea' - 'Pfitzeriana Aurea'
Large, spreading shrub; golden foliage that turns chartreuse in winter; sport of 'Wilhelm Pfitzer'
'Pfitzeriana Compacta'
- 'Sea Green'
Dwarf; mounding, arching & weeping form; dense foliage; takes pruning well - 'Wilhelm Pfitzer'
Large spreading shrub; widely available. Green adult & juvenile foliage mixed together.
Golden needles
Graceful gray-green foliage - 'Blue and Gold'
- 'Blue and Gold', 'Daubs Frosted', 'Glauca', 'Gold Coast', 'Hetzii', 'Old Gold', 'Pfitzeriana Aurea', 'Pfitzeriana Compacta', 'Sea Green', 'Wilhelm Pfitzer'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Juniperus
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China and Japan
- Wildlife Value:
- Resistant to damage by deer.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 5 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Horizontal
- Spreading
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- Produces small cones.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- Foliage plant
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Scale-like foliage; new growth is awl-shaped, in whorls of 4
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The branches are held out at a 45 degree angle from the trunk.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Lawn
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Children's Garden
- Rock Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Foundation Planting
- Hedge
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Erosion
- Pollution