Juniperus horizontalis ‘Andorra Compacta’
Overview
Uses: Groundcover, slopes and banks, rock gardens, mass plantings, and low borders.
Benefits: A low, spreading juniper with soft, feathery foliage that turns a rich plum-purple in winter. Covers ground and holds slopes once established, and shrugs off heat, drought, poor soil, and deer.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–9
Sun: Full Sun
Life Cycle: Coniferous Shrub
Growth Habit: Spreading — low, dense mat with feathery upright tips.
Foliage Color: Soft Green, turning Plum-Purple in winter
Mature Height: 1–2 feet
Mature Width: 4–6 feet
Growth Rate: Slow
Summary
A low evergreen carpet that turns plum-purple for winter.
Andorra Compact juniper is a dense, ground-hugging form of creeping juniper. Its soft, feathery branchlets angle upward at the tips, giving the mat a fine, plume-like texture rather than a flat, stiff look. Through the growing season the foliage is a soft gray-green; once cold weather arrives, it turns a rich plum-purple that lasts until spring.
It stays about one to two feet tall and spreads four to six feet across, filling slopes, banks, rock gardens, and the edges of driveways and walks. As the branches knit together, they help hold soil on a slope and shade out weeds.
It is made for tough spots. Creeping juniper grows naturally on rocky and sandy ground across northern North America, and this selection takes full sun, heat, dry spells, and poor soil better than most groundcovers. It tolerates some salt, and deer usually leave it alone.
Care
Andorra Compact Creeping Juniper Care
Plant in full sun. In shade, junipers thin out and lose their dense, feathery look.
Good drainage matters more than soil type. It adapts to sandy, rocky, clay, and slightly alkaline soils, but it does poorly in ground that stays wet.
Water regularly through the first growing season while roots establish, letting the soil dry slightly between waterings. Once established it handles dry periods well and rarely needs extra water. Overwatering is a bigger risk than drought.
Feeding is seldom needed. In very poor soil, a light application of slow release fertilizer in spring helps young plants fill in.
Pruning is minimal. To keep it within bounds, reach under the mat in late winter or early spring and cut individual branches back to a side branch, rather than shearing the tips, which leaves stubby ends. Avoid cutting into bare wood, which does not regrow. Good air circulation and avoiding overhead watering help prevent tip blight.
Size
What Size is the Andorra Compact Creeping Juniper for Sale Online?
Our Andorra Compact Creeping Juniper ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Andorra Compact Creeping Juniper Grow?
Expect about 1 to 2 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide at maturity, in a low, spreading mat. For solid groundcover, space plants about 3 to 4 feet apart so they knit together as they mature.
Additional Information
What are some common names for this plant?
- Andorra juniper
- Creeping juniper
- Plumosa juniper
Is Andorra Compact juniper a native plant?
It is a selection of Juniperus horizontalis, creeping juniper, which is native across Canada and the northern United States. Garden selections of native species like this one are often called nativars. Browse more Native Plants of North America.
Is it deer resistant?
Yes. Deer generally avoid junipers, and Andorra Compact is rarely browsed, which makes it a dependable evergreen for yards with regular deer traffic. Find more options in our Deer-Resistant Shrubs and Evergreens.
Will it work on a slope?
Yes, slopes and banks are one of its best uses. The spreading branches cover the ground, shade out weeds, and help hold soil in place, which makes hard-to-mow hillsides easier to manage. Plant in staggered rows about 3 to 4 feet apart and mulch between plants until they fill in. For more low-growing options, see our Groundcovers.
