Not the plant you're looking for? Search over 300,000 plants

Shrubs

Juniperus × pfitzeriana

Pfitzeriana juniper

A spreading, male shrub with branches ascending at an angle of 45 degrees, gradually forming a flat-topped bush with tiered foliage. Diamond-shaped scale like, grey-green leaves, with free tips, lie flat along the shoots. Spherical fruit is initially dark purple, becoming paler later. Height 1.2m (4ft), spread 3m (10ft).

Synonyms

Juniperus × media

Save to My plants

Buy this plant

Plant nurseries
3 suppliers

Ultimate height

1–1.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

5–10 years

Ultimate spread

2.5–4 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or Sheltered

Drought resistance

Yes

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Cupressaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Evergreen
Habit: Spreading branched
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eaten/skin allergen. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Genus: Juniperus can be prostrate or erect, evergreen shrubs or trees with aromatic, scale-like or sharply pointed awl-shaped leaves, and small globose fruits
Name status: Correct

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in well-drained soil, including dry, chalky, or sandy soils, in full sun or light shade.

Propagation

Propagate by seed (tree/shrub). Remove seed from flesh as soon as ripe and sow in containers in a cold frame. Germination may take up to 5 years. Root semi-hardwood cuttings in early autumn.

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Low Maintenance
Banks and slopes
Ground cover

Pruning

See pruning group 1

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids, scale insects, conifer red spider mite and caterpillars

Diseases

May be susceptible to phytophthora, canker and honey fungus. See also Conifers: brown patches

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.