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Juniperus x pfitzeriana is often confused with:
Juniperus chinensis Leaf and Fruit Close-Up
Juniperus sabina 'Monna' Form
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Aucuba japonica Aucuba japonia leaves
Myrica cerifera Myrica cerifera
Salvia rosmarinus Rosmarinus officinalis
Juniperus x pfitzeriana has some common insect problems:
Pests of Conifers

Juniperus x pfitzeriana

Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Juniperus x media
Phonetic Spelling
joo-NIP-er-us fit-zehr-ee-AYE-nuh
Description

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:
'Aurea', 'Compacta', 'Daubs Frosted', 'Glauca', 'Gold Coast', 'Pfitzeriana Compacta', 'Sea Green', 'Wilhelm Pfitzer'
Tags:
#fragrant#evergreen#drought tolerant#conifer#winter interest#air pollution tolerant#deer resistant#children's garden#playground plant#rock garden#Japanese garden#Asian garden#urban conditions tolerant#rocky soils tolerant#clay soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#coastal plant#hedge
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Aurea', 'Compacta', 'Daubs Frosted', 'Glauca', 'Gold Coast', 'Pfitzeriana Compacta', 'Sea Green', 'Wilhelm Pfitzer'
Tags:
#fragrant#evergreen#drought tolerant#conifer#winter interest#air pollution tolerant#deer resistant#children's garden#playground plant#rock garden#Japanese garden#Asian garden#urban conditions tolerant#rocky soils tolerant#clay soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#coastal plant#hedge
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Perennial
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Horizontal
    Spreading
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Fine
  • 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
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Description:
    Produces small cones.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Description:
    Foliage plant
  • 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
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    The branches are held out at a 45 degree angle from the trunk.
  • 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