Juniperus x pfitzeriana Gold Star

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Star' is a compact hybrid juniper with a very graphic appearance, notable for its beautiful yellow foliage throughout the year, as well as its low, wide cushion-like habit. In addition to these ornamental qualities, it has excellent cold resistance and is easy to grow in any well-drained soil. This conifer tolerates drought well, making it perfect for rock gardens, slopes, or structuring borders in small gardens.

Juniperus x media is a hybrid between Juniperus chinensis (originating from East Asia and known for its many ornamental varieties) and J. sabina (a creeping shrub found in the mountains of Europe, North Africa, and Asia). From these two parent species, it has inherited numerous robust characteristics that make it valuable for ornamental use.

The 'Gold Star' variety is an improvement of the well-known 'Pfitzeriana Aurea' commonly found in parks and gardens. This mutation, selected in 1971 in California by J.C. Bakker & Sons, has a more spreading habit than its parent variety, and its yellow colour is brighter and persists throughout the year. However, if planted in shady conditions, it will turn yellow-green, which is why a sunny position is preferable from an aesthetic point of view. 'Gold Star' forms a compact and spreading bush measuring about 60cm (23.6in) in height and 1.50m (4ft 11in) in width after 10 years. Its annual growth rate is moderate, making it compatible with rock gardens where it can coexist with other plants without smothering them. Its slender and flexible branches, with a feathery appearance, droop at their tips and are covered with tightly-packed, non-prickly needles. This conifer spreads by forming successive tiers, slightly obliquely, giving it a unique and interesting architecture in contemporary gardens. Its foliage is golden yellow in spring and maintains its beautiful color throughout the year. The fruits that form on the female plants are berries called galbulus, which are whitish in colour. Junipers have a shallow root system that makes them vulnerable to strong winds and difficult to combine with perennials.

The 'Gold Star' juniper is a hardy and bright small conifer, easy to grow and maintain, that has proven its robustness on slopes and in large rock gardens among rocks. With its moderate growth and year-round yellow foliage, it will work wonders as a border plant. It will fit well in contemporary gardens, alongside dwarf conifers with a conical or bushy habit, such as the Thuja 'Zmatlik', with an equally strange appearance as its name, or one of the many varieties of dwarf spruce. Pinus nigra 'Green Tower', which has similar cultural requirements, will also be a perfect companion, with its unusual graphic appearance that suits modern gardens, while its dark green foliage creates a striking contrast with that of our little Juniperus.