Juniperus communis 'Depressa Aurea'
Common name: 
Golden Flat Juniper
Pronunciation: 
ju-NIP-er-us kom-MU-nis
Family: 
Cupressaceae
Genus: 
Juniperus
Type: 
Conifer
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
Yes
  • Conifer, evergreen, dwarf shrub, rarely above 4 ft (1.2 m) high, essentially procumbent.  Leaves awl-shaped, to 15 mm long, with a glaucous white band on upper surface with a green margin.   New shoots strongly colored yellow, fades with time; can brown in winter (Dirr, 1998, p. 511, "rather depressing especially in winter").
  • Sun.  Can do well in inhospitable soils
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 2      The procumbent habit is considered a geographical variety, var. depressa, which is native to the mountains of eastern US and Canada.  The "aurea" form is a variation of this.
  • Depressa: refers to flattened, low growing form;  Aurea: golden, yellow.
Click image to enlarge
  • plant habit, spring

    plant habit, spring

  • new growth, spring

    new growth, spring

  • plant habit, winter

    plant habit, winter

  • branchlets, needles, winter

    branchlets, needles, winter