Old Gold Juniper Shrub

Old Gold Juniper Is One of the Best Go

The Perfect Evergreen Ground Cover

• Foliage: Needle-like evergreen foliage; new growth emerges bright yellow, deepens to dark gold by mid-summer

• Mature Size: 4 to 5 feet tall, 3 to 4 feet wide

• USDA Zones: 4 to 9

• Sunlight: Full sun

• Cones: Small bluish-black berry-like cones appear at maturity in fall; not edible

Commonly known as Chinese Juniper, Old Gold is a native of Asia and a member of the Cypress family. Its graceful branches are covered with evergreen, needle-like foliage but the new growth that develops at the branch tips is yellow.

The new yellow growth at the tips gives the shrub an overall gold coloration and that’s how it got the name Juniper 'Old Gold'. The new foliage growth starts out as bright yellow and deepens to dark gold by mid-summer. 

The long branches are broad and arch upwards in the middle and curve downward at the end.

Old Gold does not produce flowers nor does the shrub attract pollinators but it does develop tiny bluish-black cones that resemble berries. The small berry-looking cone is the female seed and adds another layer of color to the shrub in the fall.

These berry-looking cones are not edible and won’t show up on the juniper until it reaches maturity.

Why Gardeners Love Old Gold Juniper

Old Gold Juniper has built a loyal following among gardeners for good reason. It delivers year-round structure and color without demanding much in return. The shifting foliage which is bright yellow in spring, deepens into rich gold by summer, and holds evergreen color through winter -- means there is always something visually interesting happening. It shrugs off drought, deer, salt, pollution, and poor soil conditions that would spell trouble for less resilient shrubs. It never needs pruning to look its best. And with a lifespan of up to 30 years, it is the kind of plant you put in once and enjoy for decades. For gardeners who want low-effort, high-reward evergreen beauty, Old Gold consistently delivers.

Old Gold Juniper Landscaping

Use in rock gardens, as foundation plantings, as part of an Asian-themed garden, as a specimen plant, or as a ground cover on slopes to prevent erosion. Old Gold junipers are often used to cover sloping landscape areas where mowing is not desirable.

Its natural spreading growth habit will cover a slope in a few years and little to no maintenance will be needed in the area.

Old Gold is resistant to drought, pests, deer, salt, and pollution, making it an ideal plant for growing in many difficult landscape locations. The evergreen shrub will live up to 30 years under the right growing conditions.

Old Gold Juniper Care

Quick Summary: Plant in full sun with well-draining soil. Water regularly the first year, then leave it alone. Fertilizing and pruning are optional. One of the lowest-maintenance evergreens you can grow.

• Watering: Water consistently throughout the first year to establish a strong root system. Once established, Old Gold is drought tolerant and only needs watering during prolonged dry periods.

• Fertilizing: Feeding is not required. If you choose to fertilize, use a formula designed for evergreens and apply sparingly in early spring. Less is more with this shrub.

• Soil: Plant in well-draining soil. Old Gold tolerates a wide range of soil types but will not tolerate soggy or waterlogged conditions under any circumstances.

• Pruning: Not needed. The shrub grows into a compact, graceful form naturally. Remove damaged or diseased branches as needed.

Old Gold Juniper is hardy in USDA growing zones 4-9. Plant in a full sun location to keep the foliage bright and the shrub healthy.

Old Gold Juniper Size

This juniper variety will reach a mature height of 4-5 feet and a width of 3-4 feet. It’s a slow-growing shrub that grows 6 inches a year and will take about 10 years to reach its mature size.

Old Gold can be grown in a large container that has sufficient bottom drainage holes. While the shrub is tolerant of many environmental and soil conditions, it will not tolerate soggy soil. When the shrub is grown in a container, inspect the bottom of the container periodically to see if the roots are growing out of the bottom drainage holes. If they are, that’s an indication that the Old Gold juniper needs to be re-planted into a larger container or an in-ground location.

Why Buy From Perfect Plants?

Buying Old Gold Juniper online has never been easier. When you make your purchase with Perfect Plants you can rest easy knowing you are getting the best possible plant from a family run farm shipped directly to your door.

Shop the Old Gold Juniper for sale today! Browse all our Juniper shrubs for sale.