Juniperus pfitzeriana King of Spring

Juniperus pfitzeriana 'King of Spring' is a very hardy hybrid juniper, forming a small-sized bush with a spreading habit and flexible, arching branches. It is adorned with fine foliage that appears almost feathery, ranging from a beautiful golden yellow to lime green depending on the sunlight. This conifer effectively covers the ground and is perfect for group plantings to colonize a slope, or as a standalone feature in a small garden bed. It prefers sunny locations and well-drained soil, even poor, occasionally dry, and calcareous, and is not afraid of cold temperatures down to -20°C (-4 °F), or even lower.

Juniperus pfitzeriana or  the Pfitzer juniper is an old hybrid variety that was highly popular in the early 20th century. It owes its name to Wilhelm Spitzer, head of cultivation at the Späth nursery in Germany, where this cultivar was born in the 1890s. It is believed to be a cross between J. chinensis, the Chinese juniper, and J. sabina, a montane species widespread in Europe, North Africa, and Asia. It is a very hardy and highly ornamental conifer belonging, like its parents, to the Cupressaceae family, which includes numerous ornamental genera (Cupressus, Thuja, Libocedrus...).
The 'King of Spring' cultivar stands out for the colour of its foliage, which becomes a magnificent golden yellow when exposed to sunlight. It forms a beautiful small bush with a spreading habit and gracefully arching branches. After 10 years of growth, it reaches a height of about 50cm (19.7in) with a spread of only 1m. Therefore, it is a slow-growing conifer (approximately 15cm (5.9in) per year), which makes it easy to combine with other plants in a rock garden. Its thin and flexible branches, with a somewhat feathery appearance, are covered with tightly packed small leaves. The dense foliage is particularly decorative and is well-suited for group plantings to create a colourful border or to cover an unattractive slope. Junipers have a shallow root system that makes them vulnerable to strong winds and difficult to combine with perennials.
This juniper tolerates challenging conditions if planted in well-drained soil, as it only fears excessive water. Therefore, it is a perfect plant for beginners in the garden and can also be grown in containers to enhance a terrace or balcony.

The Pfitzer juniper 'King of Spring' is a proven conifer in terms of vigour and robustness on slopes and in rock gardens, among rocks. With its moderate growth and magnificent yellow foliage all year round, it will work wonders as a standalone specimen or in mass plantings, planted alongside conifers with an upright or bushy conical habit, as well as with foliage of different colours. Cotinus coggygria 'Lilla', a dwarf purple smoke bush, will create a strong contrast as a background for 'King of Spring'. Berberis thunbergii 'Rosy Glow' with its purplish leaves speckled with pink will produce a similar effect. All blue or grey conifers will also make good companions, such as the superb Picea pungens 'Glauca Globosa' (Blue Spruce).