How much sun does Waukegan Juniper need?

It performs best in full sun and can tolerate part sun, but heavier shade tends to thin the foliage and reduce its spreading form.

How much water does this shrub require?

Once its roots are established, Waukegan Juniper needs little supplemental watering and prefers soil that drains well and dries out between rains.

Does Waukegan Juniper produce flowers?

No. Like other junipers it is a conifer that produces small cones instead of flowers, with pollen typically released in spring.

What does the growth habit of Waukegan Juniper look like?

It grows as a low, mat-forming shrub that spreads horizontally along the ground, which makes it a common choice for erosion control on slopes and rocky banks.

Is Waukegan Juniper toxic to livestock?

The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Waukegan Juniper as toxic to livestock.

Is Waukegan Juniper HOA-friendly?

Waukegan Juniper is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

Waukegan Juniper

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Juniperus horizontalis

Last reviewed: September 2026

Waukegan Juniper is a low, spreading evergreen shrub often planted as ground cover on slopes and rocky sites in cooler northern climates. It grows best in full sun and needs little water once established.

Toxicity unknown

Waukegan Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.

The USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab) does not flag Waukegan Juniper as toxic to livestock.

Light

full sun

Water

low

Size

6"–24" H × 24"–72" W

Bloom

N/A

Native to

CO, IA, IL, MA and 9 more states

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Northwestern Forested Mountains North American Deserts High Plains Northwestern Glaciated Plains Northwestern Great Plains Western Corn Belt Plains Northern Lakes and Forests North Central Hardwood Forests Driftless Area Southeastern Wisconsin Till Plains Central Corn Belt Plains Northeastern Highlands Northeastern Coastal Zone Northern Piedmont Eastern Great Lakes Lowlands Atlantic Coastal Pine Barrens

Waukegan juniper is a low-growing, spreading evergreen shrub that forms a dense mat across the landscape. Its blue-green foliage stays attractive year-round and tolerates poor soils and drought conditions once established.

Growing Waukegan Juniper

Grow Waukegan Juniper in full sun and low water. Mature plants reach 6 to 24 inches tall and spread 24 to 72 inches wide. Expect low maintenance to keep it looking intentional in a front yard.

In an HOA neighborhood

Waukegan Juniper is an HOA-friendly choice. Maintenance level: low. Tidiness: 4 out of 5.

Works well in: front yard, foundation, street edge, mid zone.

Spreads wide and may need occasional pruning to maintain boundaries

Wildlife value

This juniper provides year-round shelter for small birds and produces small berries that feed various bird species. The dense branching structure offers nesting sites for ground-dwelling birds.

Common questions

How much sun does Waukegan Juniper need?: It performs best in full sun and can tolerate part sun, but heavier shade tends to thin the foliage and reduce its spreading form.
How much water does this shrub require?: Once its roots are established, Waukegan Juniper needs little supplemental watering and prefers soil that drains well and dries out between rains.
Does Waukegan Juniper produce flowers?: No. Like other junipers it is a conifer that produces small cones instead of flowers, with pollen typically released in spring.
What does the growth habit of Waukegan Juniper look like?: It grows as a low, mat-forming shrub that spreads horizontally along the ground, which makes it a common choice for erosion control on slopes and rocky banks.
Is Waukegan Juniper toxic to livestock?: The USDA PLANTS Database does not flag Waukegan Juniper as toxic to livestock.
Is Waukegan Juniper HOA-friendly?: Waukegan Juniper is generally an HOA-friendly choice in the right placement, with low maintenance.

These answers were drafted with an AI model from this plant's data. Verify care details with a local expert.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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