Juniper ‘Prince of Wales’ – Juniperus horizontalis (Creeping Evergreen Groundcover, Live Plants)

The Prince of Wales Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis ‘Prince of Wales’) is a tough, low-creeping evergreen groundcover that forms a dense, carpet-like mat of bright emerald-green foliage. Its long, trailing branches hug the ground and spread wide, turning a rich plum-purple in winter for year-round color. As a result, incredibly cold-hardy and drought-tough, the Prince of Wales Juniper is a workhorse for covering slopes, spilling over walls, filling rock gardens, and holding soil, all with almost no maintenance.

Why Grow a Prince of Wales Juniper?

• Dense, weed-smothering groundcover – low, mat-forming growth spreads up to 8–10 feet wide for fast, low coverage.
• Year-round color – emerald-green in summer, shifting to a radiant plum-purple in winter.
• Extremely cold-hardy – a Canadian selection that is tough all the way down to zone 3.
• Drought-, salt-, & heat-tolerant – also thrives in dry, sunny, poor, and coastal sites where other groundcovers struggle.
• Deer-resistant & low-maintenance – deer and rabbits leave it alone, and it needs little more than the occasional trim.

Looking for more groundcovers and tough evergreens? Browse our Groundcovers & Border Plants and Outdoor Plants collections.

Plant Specifications at a Glance

• Botanical name: Juniperus horizontalis ‘Prince of Wales’ (creeping juniper)
• Plant type: Low, spreading evergreen conifer (groundcover)
• Plant family: Cupressaceae (the cypress family)
• Mature size: about 4–8 inches tall, spreading 8–10 feet wide in a dense mat
• Foliage: Bright emerald-green, turning plum-purple in winter; evergreen year-round
• Notable traits: Cold-hardy to zone 3; drought-, salt-, heat-, and pollution-tolerant; deer-resistant
• Cold Hardiness Zones: 3–9

Prince of Wales Juniper Care & Growing Guide

This is one of the toughest, most carefree groundcovers you can plant. Follow these guidelines:

• Sunlight: Thrives in full sun, where the foliage is densest and most colorful. It also tolerates a little shade.
• Water: Water regularly to establish a strong root system, and more often in extreme heat. Once mature, it is very drought-tolerant and needs only occasional watering.
• Soil: Adapts to most soils, including sandy and rocky ground, though it prefers dry, well-drained soil. However, it will not tolerate soggy, wet soil.
• Cold Hardiness Zone: 3–9, since it is exceptionally cold-hardy and heat-tough across a very wide range.
• Pruning: Low-maintenance, so shear lightly once a year if needed to shape it. However, trim only into green growth, since junipers do not regrow from bare old wood.

Good to know: junipers are generally low in toxicity, though the berry-like cones may cause mild stomach upset if eaten, and the foliage can irritate sensitive skin. Therefore, it is a good idea to wear gloves when handling or trimming.

Ways to Use Prince of Wales Juniper in the Landscape

This low, spreading evergreen blankets tough, sunny ground. Popular uses for the Prince of Wales Juniper include:

• Evergreen groundcover for large areas
• Also slope, bank, and hillside planting for erosion control
• Rock gardens and spilling over walls and boulders
• Similarly, mass plantings, foundation beds, and edging
• Xeriscape, coastal, and tough urban sites

It pairs beautifully with other junipers and evergreens. For example, gardeners often combine it with the spreading Parsoni Juniper, the upright Spiny Greek Juniper, or the golden Golden Glory Ornamental Peanut for contrast.

What You’ll Receive

These are live Prince of Wales Juniper starter plants, grown and shipped by Carlo’s Plant Farm. Each plant is less than 12 inches tall when we ship it. The listing photos show mature plants of the same species. That way, you can see how yours will look as they grow. Finally, choose your preferred bundle size using the options above.

Also, due to different state laws, we reserve the right to charge extra fees where necessary to comply.

Ordering, Shipping & Returns

Every order ships free and is insured against loss or damage in transit. For full details on how we pack and send your plants, processing and delivery times, and what to do in the rare case of a problem, please review our Shipping Policy and Terms & Conditions before purchasing. By placing an order, you agree to those terms.

Prince of Wales Juniper FAQ

Growing & Care Questions

Safety, Hardiness & Shipping Questions