Prostrate or procumbent shrub generally producing long, rooting shoots. An ornamental juniper with many low, spreading cultivars. Needle-leaves 2-3 mm long in pairs, slightly spreading, 1 white band above. Scale leaves, when developed, generally to the outside of the plant, in 4 ranks, pointed, waxy bloomed, turning blue or purple in winter. Male and female cones on different plants. Fruit 7-9 mm wide on curved stalks, ripening in the second year to a waxy blue. Seeds 1-4.
E North America.
Spreading shrubs with mostly bluish sweet-smelling foliage; cf. J. sabina which has mostly unpleasant-smelling green foliage.
Source: (1995). Cupressaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 1, Ferns, conifers & their allies. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.
Juniperus horizontalis 'Andorra Compact'
Foliage similar to 'Plumosa' but more dense and compact forming a tight bun shape. Origin USA.
Juniperus horizontalis 'Bar Harbor'
A widespreading ground cover with waxy grey green foliage turning a purplish in winter. Name sometimes incorrectly spelled 'Bar Harbour'. Collected as a variant from the rocky coast of Mt Desert Island, Maine, USA.
Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Chip'
Mound-forming with the branches growing slightly upwards and the foliage silvery blue. Selected 1940 on Asger Jensen Planteskole, Denmark and introduced as 'Blue Moon' c. 1970 although a stock had been taken and introduced at an earlier date by D. Hill Nsy, Illinois, USA.
Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Horizon'
Low growing, open, spreading, not mounding in the centre, otherwise similar to 'Wiltonii'. Origin USA c. 1970s.
Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Rug'
See 'Wiltonii'.
Juniperus horizontalis 'Douglasii'
Flat, spreading along the ground, mounding a little in the centre, leaves greyish waxy, both needle and scale. Douglas Nsy, Waukegan, Illinois, USA.
Juniperus horizontalis 'Emerald Spreader'
Low ground cover with dense, feathery branches. Raised USA, released c. 1973.
Juniperus horizontalis 'Glauca'
Prostrate, mat-forming, mounding in the centre, leaves steely blue, scale leaves to the outside, needle leaves in the centre. Various clones are said to occur under this name which is probably best regarded as a group name. Possibly selected by Sargent, Arnold Arboretum, America in 1930s.
Juniperus horizontalis 'Grey Pearl'
Small, compact, leaves grey. Selected and introduced in Denmark by Thomsens Planteskole, Skalborg c. 1975.
Juniperus horizontalis 'Hughes'
Fast growing, mat-forming, leaves extremely pale whitish blue. Selection by Cedar Rapids Nsy, Iowa, usa c. 1975.
Juniperus horizontalis 'Marcella'
Prostrate, grey-blue leaves becoming purplish in winter, leaves needle-like. American raised female clone listed in 1940s.
Juniperus horizontalis 'Plumosa'
Low and widespreading with the main branches staying on the ground, others rising. Leaves all needle-like, greyish, becoming purple in winter. Introduced Andorra Nsy, Philadelphia, usa.
Juniperus horizontalis 'Prince Of Wales'
Prostrate forming a low mound of green foliage, bluish and waxy at first and with purplish tints in winter. Selection made by Mr Wellesley White from a plant growing near High River, Alberta, Canada in 1931.
Juniperus horizontalis 'Variegata'
Widespreading along the ground, the branchlets growing upwards with whitish tips, leaves needle-like, waxy blue-green. Origin usa in 1930s although there may be a range of variegated clones.
Juniperus horizontalis 'Webberi'
Low, carpeting with waxy blue colouring. Origin unknown but introduced by the Sherwood Nsy, Portland, usa in early 1970s.
Juniperus horizontalis 'Wiltonii'
('Blue Rug') Dense, dwarf, carpet-forming and extremely low, but forming a hump in the centre. Leaves small, needle-like, pale grey blue. Found on Vinalhaven Is off Maine, USA, but imported and introduced under this name by Grootendorst & Sons Nsy, Netherlands, c. 1933.
Juniperus horizontalis 'Youngstown'
Low-growing with densely distributed branches. Foliage bright green. American raised.
