Juniperus pfitzeriana White Splash

Juniperus pfitzeriana ‘White Splash’ is a very hardy hybrid juniper, forming a medium-sized bush with a spreading habit. It is adorned with fine, evergreen, non-prickly foliage of a glaucous green colour, with some white shoots in certain areas. It grows in full sun to partial shade, in ordinary, well-drained soil, even poor, occasionally dry and chalky, and is not afraid of cold temperatures down to -20 °C, or even lower. A rare variety for gardeners looking for originality!

Juniperus pfitzeriana, or Pfitzer juniper, is an old hybrid variety that was very popular in the early 20th century. It owes its name to Wilhelm Spitzer, head of cultivation at the Späth nursery in Germany, where this cultivar originated in the 1890s. It is believed to be a cross between J. chinensis, the Chinese juniper, and J. sabina, a montane species found in Europe, North Africa, and Asia. It is a very hardy and ornamental conifer, belonging, like its parents, to the Cupressaceae family, which includes many ornamental genera (Cupressus, Thuja, Libocedrus...).

The ‘White Splash’ cultivar is characterized by its glaucous green foliage, slightly bluish, which is punctuated by white shoots in certain areas, although this distinctiveness remains quite discreet. It is not a variegation, as can be found in other species. It forms a spreading bush of about 1m (3ft 4in) in height and 1.80m (5ft 11in) in width. Its fine and flexible branches are covered with tightly packed, non-prickly leaves. This juniper is robust and can withstand difficult conditions if planted in well-drained soil, as it only fears excessive water. Hardy to at least -20 °C, it tolerates drought quite well, requiring only occasional watering during prolonged dry periods. Junipers have a shallow root system, which makes them vulnerable to strong winds and difficult to combine with perennials.

The ‘White Splash’ Pfitzer juniper is a hardy conifer that will interest curious gardeners looking for diversification. It is therefore best planted as a standalone specimen rather than in groups, but it will also fit well in a border alongside other undemanding plants. Physocarpus 'Dart's Gold', with its yellow-green foliage, will create a beautiful contrast, as will the numerous varieties of Cotinus (smoke bushes) in golden or purple hues. A beautiful fastigiate yew (Taxus baccata 'Fastigiata Robusta') with its dark green persistent foliage will accompany our juniper in a contemporary garden, where their graphic appearance will be well highlighted.