Juniper 'Compact Andorra'

A.V.K. Nursery Holdings Inc.

$44.99
Title

A structural masterpiece with a seasonal surprise! This low-growing juniper features unique, finger-like branches that reach upward and outward like a soft, green starburst. While it presents a cool grey-green to silvery-teal hue during the summer months, it truly shines in the winter when the entire plant transforms into a breathtaking shade of deep plum or amethyst-purple, providing a rich, warm contrast to the winter landscape.

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Plant Details

Mature Size:

1.5' H x 4' W

Zone:

3-9

Watering:

Low

Foliage Type:

Evergreen

Growth Rate:

Slow - Moderate

Light:

Full Sun

Plant Profile

Common Names:

Andorra Juniper, Compact Andorra Juniper, Plumosa Juniper, Creeping Juniper

Scientific Name:

Juniperus horizontalis 'Plumosa Compacta'

Type:

Ornamental Evergreen Groundcover Shrub

Growth Details:

  • Mature Size: 1–2 feet tall and 3–5 feet wide.
  • Growth Habit / Form: Spreading, mounding, and prostrate with upright-angled tips.
  • Growth Rate: Slow to moderate.
  • Longevity: 30+ years under ideal conditions.

Environmental Needs:

  • Exposure: Full Sun.
  • Soil Preferences: Prefers well-drained, sandy, or rocky soils.
  • Soil Tolerance: Highly adaptable to poor soils and a wide range of pH levels, provided drainage is excellent.
  • Watering: Water regularly to establish; once mature, it is extremely drought-tolerant.

Special Features:

  • Resistances: Highly resistant to deer, drought, heat, and salt.
  • Native Status: Selected from a species native to North America.
  • Uses: Erosion control, winter interest, and low-maintenance landscaping.
  • Urban Tolerance: Stands up well to urban pollution and roadside conditions.
Care Guide

Ornamental & Landscape Value

Seasonal Interest:

  • Bloom Information: Non-flowering conifer.
  • Fall/Winter Colour: Foliage turns a stunning deep plum-purple or bronze-red after the first frost.
  • Evergreen Interest: Maintains a dense, architecturally interesting form throughout the year.

Garden Value:

Excellent for mass plantings on slopes for erosion control, in rock gardens, or as an edging plant along walkways. Its unique upward-angled branches add more vertical texture than other creeping junipers.

Wildlife & Human Value:

  • Wildlife Value: Provides ground-level cover for beneficial insects and songbirds.
  • Human Value: One of the best low-maintenance shrubs for adding dramatic winter color to a home landscape.

Planting & Care Guide

Planting Considerations:

  • Best Time To Plant: Spring or Fall.
  • Spacing: 4–5 feet apart for a dense groundcover.
  • Location Tips: Perfect for hot, dry spots near driveways or south-facing slopes.

Care:

  • Light Requirements: Best in full sun; needs at least 6 hours of direct light to achieve its signature winter color.
  • Moisture Requirements: Prefers dry to medium moisture; highly intolerant of "wet feet" or heavy, soggy soil.
  • Maintenance, Fertilization: Low maintenance; requires no regular pruning. Feed in early spring with a balanced slow-release fertilizer.

Tolerances:

Drought, salt, deer, erosion, and urban pollution.

Tips For Success:

Avoid overwatering, as this variety is particularly sensitive to root rot. Use a thin layer of gravel or organic mulch around the base to keep the foliage off damp soil and maintain a tidy appearance.

Fruit Profile