Plant Profile: Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast'

Names

Gold Coast Juniper

  • Photo of Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast' (Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast's)

Phonetic Spelling:jew-NIP-er-us fit-zair-ee-AY-nuh

Genus:Juniperis

Species:

Family:Cupressaceae

The 'Gold Coast' is a hybrid between I and J. sabina, characterized as a needle-bearing evergreen shrub that exhibits a slow, compact, and spreading growth pattern. This plant features striking golden needles that remain visually appealing throughout the year, reaching heights of up to 4 feet and widths of 4 to 6 feet. It thrives in full sunlight and prefers moist, well-drained soil, demonstrating adaptability to various pH levels. While it can tolerate some shade, it is sensitive to salt and may encounter certain pest and disease issues. The 'Gold Coast' is ideal for mass plantings, foundation landscaping, or as a standout specimen, exhibiting a slow to medium growth rate. Its vibrant gold hue persists well into the winter months, especially in sunny environments.

Quick Identification Tips:

For further details on Juniperus x pfitzeriana.

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast' Feature Summary

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast' Image Gallery

Tags

#gold
#evergreen
#yellow
#full sun tolerant
#specimen
#cones
#slow growing
#shade tolerant
#lacy leaves
#low maintenance
#winter interest
#mass planting
#year-round interest
#hedges
#moist soil
#well-drained soil
#needled evergreen
#foundation planting
#rock gardens
#fantz
#compact habit

Similar Plants

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast' is often confused with:

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast' Feature Summary

Fruit
Produces cones, not fruits, that are berry-like, tiny, globose, and glaucous.
Gray/Silver
Blue
Flowers
Non-flowering
Leaves
Juvenile leaves are awl shaped and golden yellow. They are 1/3" long and are in opposite pairs or whorls of 3. Juvenile leaves have 2 glaucous bands, a green midrib above, and a spiny apex. Adult leaves are scale-like in 4 ranks. Opposite pairs are closely pressed and overlapping. Adult leaves are short, convex, have a blunt apex, are green to blue-green to gray-green with a lighter margin, and have a glandular depression on the back.
Gold/Yellow
Needles
< 1 inch
Whole Plant Traits
Shrub
Ground Cover
Dense
Spreading
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Landscape
Winter Garden
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Specimen
Deer
Dry Soil
Diseases
Erosion

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast' Attributes

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast': Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

Cedar apple rust.

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast' Fruit

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast': Fruit Description

Produces cones, not fruits, that are berry-like, tiny, globose, and glaucous.

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast': Fruit Color

grass
Blue
grass
Gray/Silver

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast' Flowers

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast': Flower Description

Non-flowering

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast' Leaves

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast': Leaf Description

Juvenile leaves are awl shaped and golden yellow. They are 1/3" long and are in opposite pairs or whorls of 3. Juvenile leaves have 2 glaucous bands, a green midrib above, and a spiny apex. Adult leaves are scale-like in 4 ranks. Opposite pairs are closely pressed and overlapping. Adult leaves are short, convex, have a blunt apex, are green to blue-green to gray-green with a lighter margin, and have a glandular depression on the back.

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast': Leaf Color

spa
Gold/Yellow

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast': Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast': Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast': Hairs Present

No
Yes

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast': Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast' Whole Plant Traits

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast': Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast': Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast': Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast': Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast' Cultural Conditions

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast': Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast': Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast': Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast': Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast': Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast' Stem

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast': Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast' Landscape

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast': Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast': Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Juniperus x pfitzeriana 'Gold Coast': Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind