Microbiota decussata

Microbiota decussata
“Siberian carpet cypress”
CUPRESSACEAE

Evergreen Conifer Shrub – Groundcover

Zone: 3 – 7
Native habitat : Eastern Siberia

Conditions
Soil: moderately fertile
Moisture: well drained, moist to average
Light: full sun to part shade
Exposure: average
Plant size (h x w): 1.5′-3′ x 7′ – 10′
Other: tolerates shade 

Aesthetic
Shape/stem: prostrate to low mound, forms a wide, dense mat, delicate, lacy foliage sits in graceful layers, each branch tip turns slightly down
Leaf: small scale-like, triangular, paired leaves, sprays of bright green 1/8″, turning bronze-purple in winter, flat and leathery scales
Flower: monoecious or dioecious, inconspicuous, fruit is berry-like, yellow or brown 3mm; tiny cones
Bloom: insignificant
Other:

Treatment (how to…)
Plant: general;
Maintain: low maintenance; does not need major pruning, can prune to direct growth via thinning cuts or to cap off growth via thinning or heading back cuts
Propagate: cutting,

Uses
Landscape: specimen, winter interest, evergreen conifer ground cover, erosion control, slope plantings (covering large areas)
Companion planting: Betula albosinensis var. septentrionalis), winter-flowering heath (such as Erica x darleyensis ‘Kramer’s Rote’) or ornamental grasses, with their straw-like winter tones
Medicinal: unknown

Vulnerabilities
Pests and disease:
none significant
Deer resistant: yes

Interest
Local info,: not native
Pot size (to purchase): 1g +
Nature: mounding spreading ground-cover conifer
Identification (key features): mounding to spreading, delicate, lacy foliage sits in graceful layers each branch tip turns slightly down; foliage forms in flat sprays with scale-like leaves 2–4 mm; cones among the smallest of any conifer, 2–3 mm long;

Interesting facts: 1 species in genus
Cultivars:
Comments: may be hard to find

 

Juniperus horizontalis cvs.

Juniperus horizontalis cvs.
“Creeping juniper”
CUPRESSACEAE

Evergreen Conifer Shrub – Groundcover

Zone: 3 – 9
Native habitat : North America

Conditions
Soil: sandy to average
Moisture: well drained, average to drought tolerant
Light: full sun to a little more sun than part shade
Exposure: average
Plant size (h x w): 12″-20″ x indefinitely
Other: not fussy


Aesthetic
Shape/stem: prostrate, spreading, ground cover
Leaf: grey-green, needle-like juvenile foliage; adult foliage scales
Flower: cones bluish, fleshy, ovoid 
Bloom: insignificant
Other: moderately fast growing

Treatment (how to…)
Plant: general;
Maintain: low maintenance; does not need major pruning until it reaches the desired dimension, can prune before this to direct growth via thinning cuts
Propagate: cutting,

Uses
Landscape: specimen, winter interest, evergreen conifer ground cover, erosion control 
Companion planting: look to colors of variegation, dark green, silver or gold 
Medicinal: unknown

Vulnerabilities
Pests and disease:be cautious of a disease spreading through Juniperus genus called phytophthora (travels by water); also can see spider-mites
Deer resistant: yes

Interest
Local info,: not native
Pot size (to purchase): 1g +
Nature: easy-going low-spreading ground-cover conifer
Identification (key features):  leaves arranged in opposite decussate pairs, or occasionally in whorls of three; the adult leaves are scale-like, 1-2 mm long (to 8 mm on lead shoots) and 1–1.5 millimetres (0.039–0.059 in) broad; floppy branches, spreading form,

Interesting facts:
Cultivars: 100’s of different cultivars
Comments: not dense enough in its growth to deter weeds