Plant of the week

This versatile native shrub keeps its looks year round. Choose from several cultivars to use as a groundcover in rock gardens, mixed shrub borders, or cascading over walls and planters. Shore juniper is salt tolerant and makes a good choice for roadsides that get salted or seaside plantings. This ground hugging conifer has evergreen blue-green needles, soft but sharp tipped, sporting a feathery look. Shore juniper grows to a height of 12-18 inches with a 6-8 foot spread. Best growth is achieved in full sun with good drainage. Once established it is drought tolerant and deer tend to avoid it.

-Marian Hengemihle, Special to The Baltimore Sun