Juniperus x pfitzeriana Kuriwao Gold

Juniperus x media 'Kuriwao Gold', also marketed under the names of J. virginiana, J. chinensis or J. x pfitzeriana 'Kuriwao Gold', is a hybrid juniper that is not widely available in commerce. It is valued for its fast growth, medium size and ability to form either a beautiful ground cover or a specimen plant in a small garden, while offering attractive green-gold foliage all year round. With its bright foliage even in winter, this variety is superb on a large slope or even in a small hedge. It is well suited for pruning and the art of bonsai. Juniperus x media are extraordinary shrubs. They are undemanding, vigorous and beautiful. 

Juniperus x media 'Kuriwao Gold' belongs to a group of quite old hybrids, mainly derived from J. chinensis, the Chinese juniper. It is a very hardy and highly ornamental variety belonging, like its parents, to the Cupressaceae family.

'Kuriwao Gold' forms a beautiful bushy, spreading shrub after a few years, more or less resembling a compact and stout pyramid measuring about 2 m (6.6 ft) in height and with a spread of 3 m (9.8 ft). It grows quite slowly when young, at a rate of 10 cm (3.9 in) in height and 5 cm (2 in) in width per year. The growth accelerates significantly as it ages. Its foliage consists of small scale-like leaves of a green-yellow colour that are tightly packed and release an odour when rubbed, which can be perceived as unpleasant. The fruits that form on the female plants are berries called galbulus; they are bluish-black and rich in therapeutic properties. Junipers have a shallow root system that makes them vulnerable to strong winds and difficult to combine with perennials.

'Kuriwao Gold' is a hardy and bright conifer that is easy to grow, with a superb habit and persistent golden foliage. It is perfect everywhere. Take into account its adult dimensions when planting it as a standalone specimen, on a slope, in a large rock garden, or planted in groups of 3 plants in a bed along with lower conifers with rounded or bushy habits. The structural qualities of conifers naturally shine in a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of forms, silhouettes, and textures over the fleeting appearance of flowers. These plants have a reassuring permanence that provides lasting structure to a flower bed. They can be used to mark pathways and border terraces, easily replacing trimmed boxwood or holly. They go well with mahonias or wild grasses with a very complementary temperament. They can also be combined with shade-tolerant, drought-tolerant perennials such as periwinkles, Euphorbia amygdaloides purpurea, epimediums or Trachystemon orientalis. The key is to play with volumes and colours.