Juniperus chinensis ‘Hetzii Glauca’, commonly known as Spreading Juniper, is a wide, low-growing evergreen shrub with blue-green, scale-like foliage that offers year-round texture and color. This cultivar of Chinese Juniper typically grows 4 to 6 feet tall and spreads 8 to 10 feet wide, making it ideal for mass plantings, slopes, foundation borders, and erosion control. With strong drought tolerance and minimal maintenance requirements, it’s widely used in residential and commercial landscapes—but as a non-native species, it contributes little to local wildlife habitat or pollinator support.

Why choose Spreading Juniper ‘Hetzii Glauca’:

• Evergreen groundcover: Dense, horizontal spread provides year-round coverage

• Blue-green foliage: Adds cool-toned color and texture in all seasons

• Tough and adaptable: Tolerates drought, poor soil, and urban conditions

Cultivating tips:

• Sun exposure: Requires full sun for best color and form

• Soil needs: Grows well in sandy, rocky, or well-drained soils; avoid overly wet conditions

• Maintenance: Very low; occasional pruning to control spread if desired

Designs for your garden:

• Slopes and banks: Excellent erosion control on hillsides or large open areas

• Foundation plantings: Spreads wide without obstructing views or windows

• Mass plantings: Ideal for commercial landscapes and large residential beds

Ecological considerations:

• Non-native species: Offers little to no benefit for native pollinators or birds

• Not a host plant: Does not support local insect or bird populations

• Use with natives: Combine with native shrubs or perennials to enhance biodiversity

Looking for native alternatives?

Juniperus virginiana – Eastern Red Cedar: A tough native evergreen with blue-green foliage and berry-like cones that feed birds and support wildlife.
Ilex glabra ‘Compacta’ – Compact Inkberry: A broadleaf native evergreen with a dense, mounding form for hedges, borders, and foundation plantings.
Ilex glabra ‘Shamrock’ – Shamrock Inkberry: Glossy green foliage and adaptability make this compact native shrub ideal for low-maintenance evergreen coverage.