| General Description | This is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub that fills out to the ground. The foliage has a gold tinge during spring and summer and turns coral for autumn and winter. It is also known as a dwarf conifer. |
| ID Characteristic | This is a dwarf conifer that grows very low to the ground. It can be identified by its gold colour for spring and summer, and coral in autumn and winter. The leaves have a scale like texture. |
| Shape | A low growing dwarf juniper that spreads across the ground. Does not grow higher than 15 cm. |
| Landscape | Gold Strike Creeping Juniper is used as a ground cover in rock or alpine gardens and general gardens. This juniper is also used in mass plantings and border edging. Since this plant is pollution tolerant, it can be used in urban plantings. |
| Propagation | The most successful way to propagate this cultivar is through cuttings. This process is best done in the fall, after the new growth has had time to mature over the summer. In the fall, look for branches where the wood still has a green hue. Take a 15 cm cutting, making sure to pull in the opposite direction of the growth. Make sure to leave a half inch heel on the cutting. Pull any leaves close to the cutting off. Fill a 15 cm container with soil and make a small hole for the cutting. Place the cutting halfway into the soil. Make sure the soil around the cutting is firm, then water until the soil is moist. Place in a location with bright, indirect light. Make sure the surface of the soil dries out in between watering. By spring, the cutting should have roots and new growth. Check if the roots have taken hold by giving the cutting a gentle tug. If there is resistance, then the cutting’s roots have taken hold. Finally, make sure to complete the hardening process by placing the cutting outside after the last frost. This must be completed before you can place the cutting into the ground. |
| Cultivation | This juniper is pollution tolerant and not very picky on soil type or pH. It is also drought tolerant and can tolerate both dry and moist soil but must not sit in standing water. The plant prefers full sun to partial shade. The juniper requires low maintenance and is best pruned in late winter, once the extreme cold weather has passed. Place in a location away from the scorching sun. |
| Pests | Pest resistant, deer resistant. |
| Notable Specimens | A specimen can be found in the J.C. Raulston Arboretum. The J.C. Raulston Arboretum is located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States of America. The juniper was added to their collection on November 15, 2010. On November 18, 2013, the juniper was planted in bed CG02. |
| Habitat | Horticultural origin. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Thin, smooth bark with a light brown colour. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description | No flower or leaf buds visible. |
| Leaf Description | The juniper has scale-like foliage which is yellow in the spring and transitions to gold during the summer. The foliage has a coral tone which carries out through autumn and winter. |
| Flower Description | This cultivar is sterile; it does not produce flowers. |
| Fruit Description | This cultivar is sterile; it does not fruit. |
| Colour Description | The foliage is yellow during the spring and transitions to more of a gold tinge during the summer. During autumn and winter, the foliage maintains a coral colour. |
| Texture Description | The foliage of the plant has a scale like texture. The plant remains the same texture throughout the year. |