Juniperus horizontalis Golden Carpet

Juniperus horizontalis 'Golden Carpet', also known as creeping juniper or horizontal juniper, forms over time a beautiful carpet with scale-like branches, covered with magnificent foliage, tender green with golden tips, which takes on a slight orange hue in winter due to the cold. This vigorous and extremely hardy conifer is an excellent ground cover to decorate a large slope, a rock garden, or a container. It is perfectly adapted to difficult conditions and grows quite fast. It thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, even poor, occasionally dry and chalky.

Juniperus horizontalis is an evergreen and prostrate conifer belonging to the cypress family. It is native to the northern regions of North America, which explains its excellent hardiness. In its natural environment, it has a prostrate and spreading habit, reaching a thickness of 45cm (17.7in) and a spread of 2 to 4m (6ft 7in to 13ft 1in). This species prefers cool climates, poor, sandy and/or chalky soils, and is not afraid of arid conditions.

The 'Golden Carpet' juniper, derived from this species, forms after 10 years a prostrate bush, with a very spreading habit, measuring 15cm (5.9in) in height and 1m (3ft 4in) in spread. It grows quite slowly when young, then its growth accelerates with age. An adult specimen will measure about 30cm (11.8in) in height and 2m (6ft 7in) in diameter, sometimes more. The spreading branches can root, so a single plant can eventually cover a large area. Its foliage consists of two types of leaves; the juveniles have a scale-like appearance while the adult leaves are needles. Its small, tightly packed juvenile leaves release a resinous and aromatic scent when rubbed. In spring, the young golden shoots overlap with a very fresh light green foliage, which is then replaced by mature dark green leaves in summer, gradually taking on magnificent orange shades in winter. This variety does not bear fruit. Junipers have a shallow root system that makes them fragile when transplanting, in strong winds, and difficult to associate with perennials.

The creeping juniper 'Golden Carpet' is an extraordinary conifer, very undemanding, that conquers space in the most difficult areas of the garden as long as they are sunny. It will be adopted without reservation in a dry garden, on a large slope, among rocks, above a wall or a low wall, or near a swimming pool, as it blends well with geometric lines and masonry structures. It can also be installed near a water feature, overlooking a rocky slope. It also adapts very well to container gardening. The real graphic qualities of conifers naturally impose themselves in the design of a contemporary garden; these plants with their reassuring permanence structurally enhance a bed, easily replacing the strong presence of trimmed boxwood or holly. They go well with Mahonias or tousled grasses with very complementary temperaments. The key is to play with volumes and colours.