Creeping juniper Juniperus horizontalis
Creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis) is an evergreen perennial shrub in the Cupressaceae family. It grows 30 cm–1 m (12 in–3.3 ft) tall and 1.5–3 m (4.9–10 ft) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -40 °C (-40 °F). Space plants about 1.5 m (4.9 ft) apart.
Plan Creeping juniper in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Creeping juniper at a glance
| Type | Perennial shrub, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Cupressaceae |
| Mature height | 30 cm–1 m (12 in–3.3 ft) |
| Mature spread | 1.5–3 m (4.9–10 ft) |
| Spacing | 1.5 m (4.9 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance high, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Cold hardiness | About -40 °C (-40 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 3) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 38 °C (100 °F) |
| Wind tolerance | High |
| Pollinator value | None |
| Edible | Not grown as food |
| Common in gardens of | 🇺🇸 United States, 🇳🇴 Norway, 🇷🇺 Russia, 🇩🇪 Germany |
Is Creeping juniper toxic?
- People: mildly toxic
- Cats: mildly toxic
- Dogs: mildly toxic
- Parts: berries, foliage
Needles and berries can cause stomach upset and skin irritation; some juniper species are more toxic.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Creeping juniper
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
Keep apart or take care
- avoid With Siberian crab apple: Cedar-apple rust (Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae) alternates between junipers and Malus; crab apples are often heavily infected and spores can travel hundreds of metres. Evidence B
- avoid With Quince: Cedar-quince rust (Gymnosporangium clavipes) alternates between junipers and quince, hawthorn and related pome fruit, causing fruit and shoot lesions. Evidence B
- caution With Pear: Pear trellis rust (Gymnosporangium sabinae) needs both pear and juniper, especially savin (Juniperus sabina), to complete its life cycle; keep them apart or choose resistant cultivars. Evidence B
See Creeping juniper in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- New York Botanical Garden (6 plants)
- Jardin botanique de Montréal (3 plants)
Questions about Creeping juniper
- How far apart should I plant Creeping juniper?
- About 1.5 m (4.9 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 1.5–3 m (4.9–10 ft).
- Does Creeping juniper need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Creeping juniper need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Creeping juniper?
- It tolerates about -40 °C (-40 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 3.
- Is Creeping juniper poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is mildly toxic; for dogs mildly toxic; for people mildly toxic. Needles and berries can cause stomach upset and skin irritation; some juniper species are more toxic.
- What grows well with Creeping juniper?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Creeping juniper. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
Notes and assumptions
- Typical garden-cultivar values; varieties differ.
- Resinous foliage burns readily; keep away from buildings.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Leyland cypress x Cuprocyparis leylandii
- Hinoki cypress Chamaecyparis obtusa
- Dawn redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides
- Bald cypress Taxodium distichum
- Eastern red cedar Juniperus virginiana
- Northern white cedar (arborvitae) Thuja occidentalis
- Common juniper Juniperus communis
- Coast redwood Sequoia sempervirens