Looking to fill those empty garden spaces around patios, pathways, or borders? Juniper ground cover might just be your new best friend. With a variety of dense, low-growing options, junipers bring a splash of color and texture to your landscape.
From cool blues and fresh greens to sunny golds and even variegated shades, there’s something for every style. And in winter? Expect stunning tones of purple, burgundy, and copper to brighten those quiet corners when everything else looks a bit dull.
What makes juniper a garden favorite? It’s tough as nails. These plants laugh in the face of drought, shrug off harsh weather, and thrive in just about any spot—flat or sloped. Whether you’re looking for an erosion-fighting hero or a reliable, low-maintenance ground cover, junipers deliver.
Ready to find the perfect variety for your garden? Let’s explore some of the best options for adding beauty and resilience to your outdoor spaces.
Best Juniper Ground Cover For Every Garden Size
Junipers are versatile evergreen plants that can add beauty and function to any landscape. Whether you need a ground cover that stays low to the ground or a tall, narrow tree to mimic the elegance of Italian Cypress, there’s a juniper variety to fit the bill.
These aromatic shrubs and trees come in a stunning array of colors, shapes, and sizes, making them a favorite choice for gardeners around the world.
Looking for ground cover? Consider options like Juniperus horizontalis ‘Pancake’ or Juniperus communis ‘Greenmantle’, which spread out gracefully across the soil. For a pop of blue, Juniperus chinensis ‘Angelica Blue’ is a standout choice among low-growing varieties.
If you’re aiming for height and structure, Juniperus scopulorum ‘Skyrocket’ offers a striking, narrow silhouette that widens slightly with age, while Juniperus virginiana ‘Taylor’ keeps its slim, upright form even as it matures.
When planting junipers, think about spacing. Give your plants enough room to grow and thrive without crowding. Adding mulch around the base helps retain moisture and keeps weeds at bay while the plants establish themselves. If pruning is needed, stick to light trimming at the tips to encourage fullness, and avoid cutting back too harshly.
To keep your junipers healthy, choose disease-resistant varieties to ward off issues like cedar apple rust or tip blight. With a little care, these evergreens will reward you with vibrant foliage, unique textures, and year-round charm that’s hard to beat.
Looking to add a stunning, low-maintenance ground cover to your garden? Junipers are a fantastic choice—but let’s be real, not all junipers are created equal. Some shine as reliable garden heroes, while others… not so much.
No matter the size of your garden, there’s a juniper out there waiting to bring your outdoor space to life! Here’s a rundown of my favorite juniper ground covers that combine beauty, resilience, and practicality.
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Green Mound Juniper (Juniperus procumbens ‘Nana’)
- Type: Ground cover
- Zones: 4–9
If you’re after a standout ground cover, Green Mound Juniper is my top pick. Why? It ticks all the right boxes: dense enough to keep weeds at bay, attractive without being overly aggressive, and tough enough to handle drought and full sun.
Unlike the overhyped ‘Blue Rug’ (not a fan!) or the temperamental ‘Blue Star,’ Green Mound delivers consistent, hassle-free performance. Just be patient—it’s not a speed demon, but once established, it’s a garden champion.
Pro Tip: Avoid overwatering! Junipers hate being drenched by automatic irrigation. Keep watering minimal and plant them in full sun with some initial mulch to help them settle in weed-free.
Creeping Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis)
- Also Known As: Creeping cedar
- Size: 1–2 feet tall, 4–8 feet wide
Looking for a reliable, sprawling option? Creeping Juniper forms a lush, low-growing carpet of green or bluish foliage, with small blue cones adding a nice touch. This variety thrives on slopes and handles drought like a champ. Plus, its wide spread makes it a perfect pick for large areas.
Blue Forest Creeping Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis ‘Blue Forest’)
For a unique twist, check out Blue Forest! This eye-catching shrub grows low and wide, with upright branches that mimic a mini woodland. Its foliage starts off a soft blue in spring and summer, deepening to a rich blue-purple in winter.
Growing 3 to 5 inches a year, it’ll reach about 1 foot tall and 4 feet wide in 10 years. Hardy in Zones 2–8, it’s a sun-loving, drought-tolerant, and deer-resistant champ that’s perfect for ground cover or adding texture to rock gardens.
Bar Harbor Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis ‘Bar Harbor’)
Size: 8 inches tall, 6 feet wide
For rocky borders and garden rockeries, Bar Harbor Juniper is a natural fit. Its feathery, green-gray foliage creates a soft, elegant look in summer, while winter brings out subtle purple tones. This hardy variety grows vigorously, making it a dependable choice for adding texture to your landscape.
Copper Harbor Creeping Juniper
If you’re after a plant that changes with the seasons, Copper Harbor delivers. This unique mutation of the Bar Harbor Creeping Juniper shines with yellow-gold hues in summer and shifts to a warm copper tone in winter, keeping your garden vibrant all year.
It’s a fast grower, adding 6 to 12 inches annually, and can spread up to 10 feet wide while staying just a foot tall. Hardy from Zones 3 to 8, Copper Harbor thrives in sun to partial shade, laughs at drought, and shrugs off deer. Whether you need erosion control or a statement for rock gardens and containers, this juniper has you covered.
Glacier Creeping Juniper
For a cool, sophisticated vibe, Glacier is the way to go. This compact beauty hugs the ground with blue-green foliage that turns a silvery blue in winter, adding a frosty charm to your landscape. It’s a slow grower, reaching just 5 inches tall and 40 inches wide in a decade, making it perfect for tidy, well-defined spaces.
Originating in the Glacier Nature Reserve, this hardy shrub handles Zones 2 to 8 with ease, flourishing in full sun. Drought-resistant and deer-proof, Glacier is a standout for ground cover enthusiasts.
Pancake Creeping Juniper
As the name suggests, Pancake Creeping Juniper is all about staying low. This is one of the flattest junipers out there, with gray-blue-green foliage that hugs the ground like a cozy blanket.
Growing just 1 to 3 inches annually, it reaches about 5 feet wide and only an inch tall after 10 years. Perfect for Zones 3 to 8, Pancake thrives in sun to partial shade and looks incredible cascading over retaining walls or spreading across rock gardens.
Andorra Juniper ‘Plumosa’
Size: 2 feet tall, 10 feet wide
Andorra Juniper brings a touch of seasonal drama to your garden. In summer, its gray-green foliage looks fresh and vibrant, while winter sees it transform with golden and plum hues. If you’re gardening in a coastal area or need a drought-resistant option, this one’s a winner.
Blue Chip Juniper
Want silvery-blue hues in your landscape? Meet ‘Blue Chip’ (J. horizontalis ‘Blue Chip’). This feathery, low-growing juniper only reaches about a foot tall, making it perfect for edging pathways or framing patios. Its ethereal coloring pairs beautifully with terracotta tones or all-white planting schemes.
Blue Rug Juniper
If you need a ground-hugging option, ‘Blue Rug’ (J. horizontalis ‘Wiltonii’) is your go-to. It spreads wide—up to 8-10 feet—while staying just 4 inches tall. Its silver-blue foliage develops a bronze tint in winter, and it thrives in full sun, even in windy or salty conditions.
Blue Prince Juniper
Got a sloped area to cover? ‘Blue Prince’ (J. horizontalis ‘Blue Prince’) is a creeping evergreen with fine blue needles that deepen in color during winter. It grows up to 6 inches tall and spreads 5 feet wide, creating a striking carpet of vibrant blue foliage.
Shore Juniper
Perfect for coastal gardens, shore juniper (J. conferta) adds a feathery texture to your space. It grows 12-18 inches tall and spreads 6-8 feet, thriving in heat and seaside conditions. For variety, try ‘Blue Pacific’ with blue foliage, or go green with ‘Emerald Sea’ and ‘Schlager.’
Sunsplash Shore Juniper (Juniperus conferta ‘Sunsplash’)
Add a splash of sunshine to your garden with Sunsplash! This vibrant dwarf juniper features green foliage dappled with golden highlights. It’s a slow grower, adding just 1 to 6 inches each year, but eventually stretches to 6–8 inches high and 5 feet wide in about 10 years.
Sunsplash loves full sun (no worries about burning), is hardy in Zones 4–9, and handles drought and deer like a pro. Use it to brighten up borders, rock gardens, or even as a striking container plant.
‘Hughes’ Juniper
Meet ‘Hughes,’ a sprawling silver-blue juniper with a feathery touch. Growing just about a foot tall and stretching up to 9 feet wide, this drought-tolerant beauty is perfect for rock gardens or gravel landscapes. Bonus: its foliage takes on a soft purple hue in winter, adding a seasonal twist to your garden’s palette.
‘Mother Lode’ Juniper
If you’re after a pop of gold, ‘Mother Lode’ is the way to go. This low-growing juniper reaches just 3 inches high but spreads up to 3 feet. Its golden foliage turns a warm orange in winter, creating a vibrant contrast against earthy tones or blooming ground covers.
‘Prince of Wales’ Juniper
For a touch of year-round charm, check out ‘Prince of Wales.’ This sun-loving variety stays close to the ground, growing about 6 inches tall, and features lush green foliage that deepens into purples as the weather cools. It’s a stellar choice for edging pathways, dressing up patios, or even filling in sandy soils.
‘Gold Strike’ Juniper
Brighten up borders and pathways with ‘Gold Strike.’ This mounding juniper flaunts light green leaves accented by cheerful yellow highlights in summer, shifting to orange tones in fall. Its compact growth habit makes it a delightful, easy-care addition to any sunny garden spot.
Youngstown Juniper (J. horizontalis ‘Youngstown’)
Meet ‘Youngstown,’ the juniper that’s as tough as it is beautiful. Its soft, gray-green foliage takes on a purple hue in winter, adding seasonal interest to your garden. Growing just about a foot tall and spreading up to six feet wide, it forms a dense, low mat that’s perfect for slopes, patios, or pathways. Plus, it handles both heat and cold like a pro.
Angelica Blue Juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘Angelica Blue’)
If you’re into bold, striking colors, ‘Angelica Blue’ will steal the show with its vibrant, fluffy blue foliage. This beauty grows 6–12 inches annually and can reach 3–5 feet tall and 5–10 feet wide in a decade.
Ideal for USDA Zones 4–9, it thrives in full sun and shrugs off heat, drought, and hungry deer. Use it as a foundation planting or a bold ground cover for contrast with darker greens.
Daub’s Frosted Juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘Daub’s Frosted’)
Bright yellow new growth meets blue-green interiors in ‘Daub’s Frosted,’ creating a stunning two-tone effect. This compact variety grows 3–6 inches a year, maturing at about 1 foot high and 4 feet wide over ten years.
Hardy in Zones 4–8, it loves sunny spots and isn’t picky about soil quality. Whether you’re covering a slope, enhancing a rock garden, or adding a splash of color, this juniper shines.
Sea Green Juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘Sea Green’)
Soft green, arching branches make ‘Sea Green’ a favorite for borders, foundation plantings, or ground covers. It grows at a steady pace of 3–6 inches annually, reaching 1 foot high and 5 feet wide in ten years.
Perfect for Zones 3–8, it thrives in full sun and handles drought and deer with ease. Its vigorous nature ensures it stays lush and lovely year after year.
Greenmantle Common Juniper (Juniperus communis ‘Greenmantle’)
Looking for a lush, green carpet for your garden? Meet Greenmantle! This juniper spreads out like a soft, mossy blanket, perfect for covering walls, rock gardens, or even shaping into a cute topiary.
Over a decade, it can grow up to 6 inches tall and 4 feet wide, with an annual growth rate of 3 to 6 inches. Bonus: it’s tough enough to handle USDA Zones 3–9, thrives in sun or light shade, and shrugs off drought and deer.
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