Juniperus horizontalis Jade River

Juniperus horizontalis 'Jade River' is a variety of horizontal juniper that stands out for its grey-blue foliage, turning purple in winter. Like other varieties, it spreads widely while remaining very low and dense. It is therefore a very good ground cover plant to fill a slope or dress up a rockery. Very hardy, this conifer appreciates a neutral to limestone soil, even poor or sandy, in any case, well-drained. Loving full sun, it also grows in partial shade and proves easy to cultivate.

Juniperus horizontalis is a prostrate evergreen conifer, belonging to the Cupressaceae family. This family includes other common species, such as cypresses, Thuja, and Chamaecyparis, or less known, such as the majestic Fitzroya from South America or the Callitris from Australia. This horizontal juniper is native to the northern regions of North America, which explains its excellent hardiness (-25 to -30 °C). In its natural environment, it has a prostrate, widely spreading habit, reaching 45cm (17.7in) thick and 2 to 4m (6ft 7in to 13ft 1in) wide. This species appreciates cool climates, poor, sandy and/or limestone soils, and is not afraid of arid conditions.

The 'Jade River' juniper, derived from this species, forms a low bush, with a very spreading habit, measuring 25cm (9.8in) in height and 1.50m (4ft 11in) in width after 10 years. Its foliage consists of small, soft and non-prickly needles, with a beautiful grey-blue hue. When cold weather arrives, the foliage takes on a purple-violet hue, renewing its aesthetics. Truly hardy (-20 °C), it adapts to many types of soils, provided they are well-drained, even once well-rooted and dry. It is therefore a particularly easy plant to cultivate and highly recommended for beginners. 

The 'Jade River' horizontal juniper is a precious small conifer, very frugal, which will be perfect for covering a slope, running along the edge of a dry stone wall, or spreading between rocks in a sunny rockery. Its limited development and relatively slow growth will also allow it to be grown in a pot. An inherently graphical plant, it will find its place in a contemporary garden with geometric lines, in a rockery or a mineral or Mediterranean garden.
Developing mainly in a horizontal plane, it can easily be associated with plants with columnar growth (such as the variegated golden yew 'David' forming a contrast of shape and colour), or globular-shaped shrubs, such as the small Berberis 'Admiration' which lives up to its name, or even topiaries.
Similarly, strong colour contrasts can be created by planting wig trees - which, like it, tolerate limestone and poor soils - with purple foliage ('Royal Purple' smoke bush) or golden foliage ('Golden Spirit' smoke bush).