Pfitzer Juniper Juniperus × pfitzeriana 'Carbery Gold'

👤 Non-toxic to humans

🐾 Toxic to pets

🌸 Not blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

The 'Carbery Gold' juniper is known for its striking foliage. This plant has a dense, spreading form, creating a lovely, flowing appearance in the landscape. The foliage color is what sets the 'Carbery Gold' apart: it boasts a vibrant, golden-yellow hue, especially vivid in new growth. This golden coloration tends to be the most intense in full sun, mellowing slightly when the plant is grown in partial shade. The needles of the 'Carbery Gold' are fine and soft to the touch, unlike some other junipers, which may be prickly or sharp. As the seasons change, the golden foliage can take on a more bronze or burnt orange tone, adding seasonal interest to the garden. The plant has a natural tendency to form graceful mounds, contributing to its visual appeal as a specimen or accent in a landscape design.

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Cupressaceae
- Synonyms
  Carbery Gold Juniper, Pfitzer Juniper
- Common names
  Juniperus × pfitzeriana 'Carbery Gold'.
Toxicity
- To humans
  The Pfitzer juniper is not generally considered highly toxic to humans. However, consuming parts of the plant, particularly the berries, may cause gastrointestinal upset, including stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. It is always wise to avoid ingesting any parts of ornamental plants as they are not meant for consumption and individual reactions can vary.
- To pets
  The Pfitzer juniper may have a similar level of toxicity to pets as it does to humans. While not highly toxic, ingesting the plant can lead to gastrointestinal upset in pets such as dogs and cats. Symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. If a pet is suspected of having ingested the plant, it is advisable to consult a veterinarian.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Evergreen
- Color of leaves
  Gold
- Height
  4 feet [1.2 meters]
- Spread
  6 feet [1.8 meters]
- Plant type
  Shrub
- Hardiness zones
  4
- Native area
  Cultivar

Benefits

General Benefits
- Drought Tolerance: Can survive with minimal watering once established, making it suitable for xeriscaping or areas with water restrictions.
- Low Maintenance: Requires minimal care beyond occasional pruning, making it ideal for gardeners seeking a low-effort plant.
- Erosion Control: Its root system helps stabilize soil on slopes, preventing soil erosion.
- Year-Round Interest: Retains attractive golden foliage throughout the year, providing a constant splash of color in the garden.
- Wildlife Habitat: Offers shelter for birds and other wildlife, enhancing biodiversity in the garden.
- Windbreak: Can be used in hedges or as a standalone to provide protection against winds.
- Adaptability: Thrives in a variety of soil types and conditions, making it a versatile choice for many landscapes.
- Compact Size: Suitable for smaller gardens where space might be limited, without the need for extensive pruning.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Photography Background: The 'Carbery Gold' juniper can serve as a vibrant background for outdoor photography, adding a touch of natural golden color to the composition.
- Windbreaks: Planted in rows, this juniper variety can act as a windbreak, protecting gardens and landscapes from strong winds.
- Erosion Control: The dense foliage and root system of 'Carbery Gold' can help stabilize soil on sloped terrain, preventing erosion.
- Hedging: Homeowners may use 'Carbery Gold' for creating low-maintenance hedges that require minimal trimming due to its slow growth rate.
- Fauna Shelter: This plant provides shelter for small wildlife like birds and beneficial insects, creating a miniature ecosystem in the garden.
- Bonsai: Enthusiasts sometimes use 'Carbery Gold' for bonsai because of its attractive foliage and adaptability to pruning.
- Garden Sculpting: The juniper can be shaped and trimmed to create living sculptures in ornamental gardens.
- Culinary Garnish: While not commonly consumed, sprigs of 'Carbery Gold' can be used as a decorative garnish for special culinary presentations.
- Privacy Screening: When planted in a series, this juniper provides privacy to yards and outdoor living spaces without the need for fencing.
- Theme Gardens: Its unique coloration makes it a suitable plant for theme gardens, such as gold or yellow-themed areas.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The Pfitzer Juniper is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The Pfitzer Juniper is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Protection: Traditionally, Juniper plants have represented shelter and protection due to their thick foliage and sometimes prickly branches, offering refuge to birds and wildlife.
- Cleansing and Purification: Juniper is often associated with cleansing because its leaves and berries were used in smudging practices to purify the air, a ritual common in various indigenous cultures.
- Health: Given its use in herbal medicine, Juniper symbolizes good health and well-being. The berries of some juniper species are used to create essential oils with purported health benefits.
- Longevity: Junipers are known to live for a long time and thus symbolize longevity and endurance.
- Healing: The medicinal properties attributed to juniper, such as its antiseptic qualities, translate into a symbolic meaning of healing and recovery.

💧

Every 2-3 weeks

Water

☀️

500 - 2500 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 3-4 years

Repotting

🌱️

Early Spring

Propogation

✂️️

As needed

Pruning

Water
The Pfitzer juniper prefers to be watered deeply every 7 to 10 days, depending on weather conditions and soil drainage. Ensure that the plant receives about 1 to 1.5 gallons of water during each session, which will suffice to moisten the soil to a depth of several inches, encouraging healthy root growth. During hot, dry periods, increase watering frequency to prevent the soil from drying out completely. Overwatering should be avoided as Pfitzer junipers do not tolerate soggy conditions well. Always allow the top inch of soil to dry out before watering again to maintain optimal moisture levels.
Light
The Pfitzer juniper thrives in a spot where it can receive full sunlight for at least 6 hours daily. It is tolerant of partial shade, but full sunlight will ensure the most vigorous growth and maintain the bright coloration of the foliage. Avoid deeply shaded areas, as too little light can lead to sparse foliage and a less robust plant.
Temperature
Pfitzer junipers are hardy and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures, from winter lows well below 0°F to summer highs exceeding 100°F. The ideal temperature range for healthy growth is between 40°F and 85°F. These shrubs are adapted to cold climates and can handle frost without significant damage.
Pruning
Prune the Pfitzer juniper to maintain shape and encourage dense growth. The best time for pruning is late winter to early spring, before new growth starts. Light trimming can also be done in late summer if necessary. Avoid heavy pruning, as junipers do not regenerate well from old wood. Prune selectively, cutting back to lateral branches or buds, and aim to do so annually or biennially as needed.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
The Pfitzer juniper thrives best in well-draining, sandy loam soil with moderate fertility. A mixture of about 1/3 sand, 1/3 topsoil, and 1/3 peat or compost is ideal. This plant prefers a soil pH between 6.0 and 8.0.
Repotting
Pfitzer junipers are slow-growing and typically require repotting only every 3-4 years. It should be done during late winter or early spring before new growth starts.
Humidity & Misting
Pfitzer juniper is tolerant of a wide range of humidity levels and does not require any specific humidity conditions. It is suitable for outdoor environments where humidity levels are natural and uncontrolled.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Not ideal for indoors; needs full sun, well-draining soil.
- Outdoor
  Plant in full sun, well-drained soil, minimal care needed.
- Hardiness zone
  4-9 USDA.
Life cycle
The Juniperus × pfitzeriana 'Carbery Gold', commonly known as the Pfitzer juniper 'Carbery Gold', begins its life as a seed that germinates when conditions are favorable, typically in a well-draining soil with adequate sunlight. After germination, the seedling emerges and begins its growth into a young plant, developing a root system and foliage. As the plant matures, it transitions into the vegetative stage where it focuses on growth, producing its characteristic yellow to gold-tinted foliage and woody stems. The Pfitzer juniper 'Carbery Gold' reaches reproductive maturity in several years, producing cones; the male cones release pollen, which fertilizes the female cones leading to seed development. Once the seeds are mature, they are dispersed, often by wind or wildlife, to start a new generation. The life span of the Pfitzer juniper 'Carbery Gold' can extend to several decades under optimal conditions, with the plant continuing to grow in size and spread until the end of its life cycle.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Early Spring
- The most popular method of propagation for the Carbery Gold Juniper, a cultivar of Juniperus × pfitzeriana, is through semi-hardwood cuttings. This technique is typically done in late summer to early autumn, when the current year's growth has begun to mature but is not fully hardened. To propagate, a cutting of about 4 to 6 inches (approximately 10 to 15 centimeters) is taken from the parent plant, ensuring a few sets of leaves remain on the stem. The lower leaves are removed, and the cut end is dipped into rooting hormone to encourage root development. The prepared cutting is then planted in a well-draining soil mix, making sure at least two sets of leaves are above the soil surface. The soil is kept moist but not waterlogged, and the cutting is placed in indirect light until roots have established, which can take several weeks to a few months.