Plant, Tree & Shrub Library

Other Names:  Juniper chinensis 'Gold Lace', Pfitzer

Description:

A selection of Pfitzer Juniper with lacy golden foliage and a compact growth habit

Ornamental Features

Gold Lace Chinese Juniper is primarily valued in the landscape or garden for its distinctively pyramidal habit of growth. It has rich green evergreen foliage. The scale-like sprays of foliage remain green throughout the winter. It produces powder blue berries from late spring to late winter.

Landscape Attributes

Gold Lace Chinese Juniper is an evergreen tree with a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which can make it a great accent feature on this basis alone.

This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Gold Lace Chinese Juniper is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Vertical Accent
• Hedges/Screening
• Windbreaks and Shelterbelts

Planting & Growing

Gold Lace Chinese Juniper will grow to be about 4 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 6 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 2 feet from the ground. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 70 years or more.

This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This species is not originally from North America.