Common Name: juniper
Type: Needled evergreen
Family: Cupressaceae
Zone: 3 to 9
Height: 3.00 to 4.00 feet
Spread: 3.00 to 4.00 feet
Bloom Time: Non-flowering
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Hedge
Leaf: Evergreen
Attracts: Birds
Fruit: Showy
Other: Winter Interest
Tolerate: Deer, Drought, Erosion, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil, Air Pollution
Culture
Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerant of a wide variety of soils including clay. Intolerant of wet soils. Tolerant of some drought once established. Also tolerant of many city air pollutants. Pruning may help maintain compact habit.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Juniperus × pfitzeriana is a hybrid designation that includes certain cultivars that are crosses between J. chinensis and J. sabina. Such cultivars in the Pfitzer Group are sometimes commonly called pfitzer juniper.
Genus name comes from the Latin name for the juniper.
‘Armstrongii’ (synonymous with ‘Armstrong’) is a dwarf, shrubby, pfitzer juniper that slowly grows to 3-4’ tall and as wide. It features horizontally spreading branching primarily clad with scale-like, medium green needles that are soft to the touch. Foliage is attractive year round. This dwarf plant was originally introduced into commerce in 1932 by Armstrong Nursery, in California, as a Chinese juniper cultivar. Recent testing has determined ‘Armstrongii’ to be a hybrid (J. chinensis x J. sabina), and it is now included in x pfitzeriana.
Problems
Junipers are generally susceptible to tip and needle blights. Cedar-apple rust and related rust diseases spend part of their life cycle on junipers. Root rot may occur, particularly in wet, poorly drained soils. Canker may attack bark or main stems. Occasional insect pests include aphids, bagworms, webworms and scale.
‘Armstrongii’ reportedly has good resistance to cedar apple rust.
Uses
Rock gardens. Foundations. Low hedge. Spreading ground cover shrub.