Pfitzer Juniper
Juniperus × pfitzeriana
Also listed as Juniperus × media, Juniperus × pendula
Climate Match for your location
See how well Pfitzer Juniper grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
A hybrid juniper with fine, feathery blue-green foliage and a wide, spreading habit, popular for its low-maintenance character and year-round color. It is extremely drought-tolerant and widely used in xeriscaping and landscape design.
Why grow it
Pfitzer Juniper offers moderate vigor and a naturally spreading form that requires minimal pruning compared to columnar or pyramidal junipers, making it useful where a wider ground-level presence suits the design. Its fine-textured foliage and blue-green coloring provide visual contrast in mixed plantings, and it tolerates poor, sandy, or compacted soils better than many broadleaf shrubs. It serves well as a mid-scale spatial filler in low-water landscapes where conifers are preferred for year-round structure.
Watch out for
In humid or poorly drained sites, this juniper is susceptible to root rot and fungal diseases, particularly in the interior of dense growth where air circulation is limited. Mature specimens can spread 8 to 10 feet wide and may gradually outgrow smaller planting spaces, so site selection matters more than frequent shearing to control size. Spider mites can become problematic during hot, dry periods, especially if plants are stressed by overwatering or located near reflected heat.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Cupressaceae
Native Range
Horticultural hybrid (Juniperus chinensis × Juniperus sabina)
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Notable Cultivars
'Gold Coast' is prized for golden foliage, while 'Blue Star' offers compact, silvery-blue growth; both are widely available cultivars known for ornamental appeal.
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A hybrid juniper with fine, feathery blue-green foliage and a wide, spreading habit, popular for its low-maintenance character and year-round color. It is extremely drought-tolerant and widely used in xeriscaping and landscape design.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Pfitzer Juniper grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Pfitzer Juniper offers moderate vigor and a naturally spreading form that requires minimal pruning compared to columnar or pyramidal junipers, making it useful where a wider ground-level presence suits the design. Its fine-textured foliage and blue-green coloring provide visual contrast in mixed plantings, and it tolerates poor, sandy, or compacted soils better than many broadleaf shrubs. It serves well as a mid-scale spatial filler in low-water landscapes where conifers are preferred for year-round structure.
Watch out for
In humid or poorly drained sites, this juniper is susceptible to root rot and fungal diseases, particularly in the interior of dense growth where air circulation is limited. Mature specimens can spread 8 to 10 feet wide and may gradually outgrow smaller planting spaces, so site selection matters more than frequent shearing to control size. Spider mites can become problematic during hot, dry periods, especially if plants are stressed by overwatering or located near reflected heat.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Cupressaceae
Native Range
Horticultural hybrid (Juniperus chinensis × Juniperus sabina)
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Similar shrubs you might consider:
Enter your ZIP code to see top native species and strong climate fits for you.
Companion Planting
Plants well with
Notable Cultivars
'Gold Coast' is prized for golden foliage, while 'Blue Star' offers compact, silvery-blue growth; both are widely available cultivars known for ornamental appeal.