Creeping Juniper 'Wiltonii' is a North American native that sprawls across rocky ground like a living blanket, typically reaching just 3 to 6 inches tall while spreading 5 to 8 feet wide. This evergreen shrub hails from the wild landscapes of Alaska, Canada, and the northern United States, where it colonizes rock outcroppings, coastal cliffs, and sand dunes with remarkable toughness. Hardy in zones 3 through 9, it thrives in full sun with moderate water and punishes you only if you overwater; it genuinely thrives on neglect. Low maintenance and fiercely drought tolerant, it matures in about 90 days from seed to bloom and asks almost nothing in return for decades of ground-hugging service.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-9
6in H x 96in W
—
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
This variety spreads aggressively across poor, rocky soil where almost nothing else will grow, making it invaluable for erosion control and difficult slopes. Its evergreen foliage persists through harsh winters, and it tolerates the kind of drought and urban pollution that would kill fussier plants. Deer leave it alone, butterflies and hummingbirds visit the insignificant flowers, and it produces showy, edible fruit that birds adore. Space it 12 inches apart and watch it fill in a barren bank or rocky hillside with virtually zero fuss.
Creeping Juniper functions as a ground cover for slopes, rocky banks, and difficult terrain where maintaining a lawn or traditional planting is impractical. Its spread and mat-forming habit address erosion control and stabilization of shallow, rocky soils in landscapes. It naturalizes well across open areas and tolerates the heat, salt, and pollution stress of urban conditions, making it suitable for roadside plantings and exposed sites.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Germinate seeds indoors at 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit approximately 90 days before the last spring frost to allow seed-to-bloom maturity before transplanting outdoors.
Harden off seedlings gradually over 7 to 10 days before moving them into the garden. Space transplants 12 inches apart in full sun after the last frost date in your zone.
Minimal pruning is needed for this low, spreading shrub. Remove any dead or damaged growth in spring, and if foliage dies back in the center of mature plants (a known tendency), trim away the dead portions to encourage new growth around the edges.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“Juniperus horizontalis, the species from which this cultivar derives, has been found growing wild across a vast swath of northern terrain, from the windswept coasts of Alaska through Canadian boreal forests to the rocky prairies and lakeshores of the northern Great Lakes region, Wyoming, and Montana. Native peoples and early settlers encountered this prostrate shrub establishing itself on the harshest ground, in sandy and rocky soils where its deep root system could anchor against erosion. The 'Wiltonii' selection represents a cultivated choice from this species, preserved and propagated by horticulturists who recognized its ornamental and functional value for landscape use. This plant carries the genetic legacy of survival in extreme environments, refined through cultivation into a reliable garden tool.”