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Juniperus horizontalis

American Savin · Creeping Cedar · Creeping Juniper

Family CupressaceaeGenus Juniperus

Blue-gray berry-like cones tucked among scaly juniper foliage
FruitSriMeshCC BY 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
ShrubExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
subshrubPlants of the World Online
Height
0.5-1.5 ft15-45 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
4-10 ft1.2-3 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
Spring, SummerExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Alaska, Canada, lower 48 states, St. Pierre and MiquelonPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
3-9Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sunExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Sand, Shallow RockyExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Occasionally DryExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
Drought tolerance: LowPLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS.

Worth knowing

Two sources report two treatments between them. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  5. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  6. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  7. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    1/250 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 5 run on after germination.

about 12 months from start to step 5. Germination happens during step 5.

0% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Juniperus p. 51Public domain
Show the original text
Juniperus (Pinaceae). J. horizontalis germ. 70-40-70-40-70(1/250)-40- 70(1/250) similar to the extended germination shown by
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Juniperus p. 51. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

Germination happens during step 1.

0% germination.

This source doesn't state how long step 1 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Juniperus p. 162Public domain
Show the original text
Juniperus (Pinaceae). J. horizontalis has so far germ. only 1/200 in a 4th cycle at 40.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Juniperus p. 162. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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