Juniper, Old Field

Old Field Juniper (Juniperus communis var. depressa)

Old field juniper brings low, spreading evergreen structure to sunny ground where drainage is good. Its prickly gray-green needles and trailing branches suit rocky slopes and naturalistic borders, with useful cover close to the ground throughout winter.

Key Characteristics

Blue cones that feed birds
The berry-like structures on female plants are fleshy cones, not true berries. American robins, black-capped chickadees and cedar waxwings eat common juniper cones, helping disperse the seeds. Male and female plants are separate, so cone production requires a female plant and nearby pollen.

A durable layer for dry sites
Established plants tolerate drought and poor, rocky or sandy ground. The broad habit can help hold soil over time while offering shelter for birds and small mammals. Allow room for its spread instead of treating it as a narrow upright juniper.

Traditional flavoring uses
Properly identified common juniper cones have a long culinary history as a seasoning and gin flavoring. Not every juniper is interchangeable, and this listing does not guarantee a female, cone-bearing plant.

Product Details

• Origin: Native North American variety of common juniper
• Growth: Spreading evergreen shrub
• Sun: Full sun
• Soil: Well-drained, medium-dry to dry
• Mature size: Approximately 3–6 feet tall and 8–12 feet wide
• Flowers: No true flowers; produces pollen cones and seed cones
• Hardiness: Zones 2–6

Best suited to cooler conditions. Persistent heat, humidity and wet soil can be more limiting than winter cold. Deer resistance is useful, but browsing is still possible.