Mellow rather than bright yellow
The blend of golden tips and greener depth creates a rich, settled colour.
Juniperus 'Old Gold' 17cm
Normal price
€13,50
What does the legal guarantee mean for plants?
The legal guarantee concerns the plant’s conformity at delivery. It is not a guarantee of survival or growth for two years. Each issue is assessed taking into account the nature of the plant, its care and the conditions in which it is kept. Your statutory rights remain unaffected.
Juniperus ‘Old Gold’
Plant it, water lightly, then pretend you are the expert 🧑
- Mellow golden green
- Broad low mound
- Colour through the year
- Full sun
Juniperus ‘Old Gold’ has the mellow, mature golden-green colour that warms a garden without becoming glaring. Softly curving branches form a broad, relatively level mound, with young tips glowing above deeper interior foliage. The effect is rich, dependable and elegant in every season, adding enough colour to lift a restrained scheme while remaining calm beside stone, timber and established green planting for years to come.
It suits places needing low evergreen volume with more character than a plain green background. Beside blue conifers, purple foliage or silver perennials it creates refined contrasts, while on its own it becomes a quiet golden anchor.
Juniperus × pfitzeriana ‘Old Gold’ holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit for its dependable golden-green colour and compact, spreading garden form.
What makes it special
Low overlapping tiers create a broad, calm mound whose mellow gold feels warm and established rather than sharp or flashy.
A broad level crown
Layered branches extend sideways with gentle curves, staying lower than upright golden junipers.
Reliable winter structure
Evergreen foliage and a visible branch framework hold the composition together all year.
Why you will love it: it provides sophisticated golden colour in a broad, low form that combines easily with both cool and dark foliage.
In the garden & on the balcony Placement & plant combinations Give the level crown full sun and a generous foreground so its soft golden layers can read as one composition.
A low golden anchor
Use in full sun across the front or middle of a broad border, near stone or as a warm evergreen mass with sufficient room for its level spread.
Old gold with blue, purple and silver
Cool colours reveal the warm tips while broad leaves contrast with the fine conifer texture.
- Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’ — silver-blue needles create a clear cool contrast
- Heuchera ‘Palace Purple’ — broad purple leaves deepen the golden tone
- Santolina chamaecyparissus — a low silver mound continues the dry, sun-loving palette
Care at a glance
Light
Juniperus ‘Old Gold’ performs best in full sun; this exposure also keeps its broad, softly layered golden mound clearly defined.
Watering
Water Juniperus ‘Old Gold’ thoroughly while it establishes, then allow the upper layer to dry modestly before giving the entire root area a deep watering; let the root area drain and partly dry between visits.
Climate & hardiness
Juniperus ‘Old Gold’ is a hardy evergreen conifer. The evergreen mound is cold hardy in drained ground; an exposed pot needs protection from saturated freezing conditions.
Safety
Treat every part as ornamental only; gloves protect sensitive hands when reaching through the resinous golden-green tiers.
Detailed care Complete care guide Preserve mellow colour and clean tiers with measured water and pruning
Position
Give it full sun, free drainage and clear foreground space so the low golden tiers retain their broad, level outline.
Soil & drainage
For Juniperus ‘Old Gold’, use open, moderately fertile soil that supports steady growth without holding surplus water. Good structure should release a soaking without leaving the crown damp.
Watering during establishment
Throughout the first growing season, soak the planted area whenever the upper soil begins to dry, then allow it to drain freely.
Watering once established
Once established, allow the upper layer to dry modestly before soaking the entire root area and letting it drain freely.
Growing in a container
A stable, broad pot gives the layered crown room to extend without losing balance. Use an open mix and drain every soaking promptly.
Feeding
If growth is weak, use a light balanced feed in spring; overfeeding produces coarse extension and spoils the low layered mound.
Pruning
Shorten a misplaced branch from inside the crown to a concealed side shoot, preserving the mellow golden surface.
Seasonal care
After winter, remove trapped leaves and damaged sprays from inside the mound without thinning its healthy golden exterior.
Development over time From establishment to a mature broad level layered mound The young mound roots in first; low curved branches then extend sideways and add new golden tips above the greener interior.
Compact young mound
Short branches cluster near the centre while roots establish.
The level crown widens
Softly curving laterals extend sideways and new golden tips appear above greener interior growth.
Mature layered dome
A broad 1.2–1.5m crown settles into a relatively level top with visible warm outer tiers.
Mature form & dimensions
in the groundHeight 60–90cmSpread 1.2–1.5mLow broad crown
Short ascending stems branch outwards in low, overlapping layers. Fine golden-green branchlets create a dense crown with a naturally uneven outline.
Form through time
young → matureFirst branchesShort stems rise a little from the base before extending sideways.
Broad mature crownSide branches lengthen and overlap, retaining a low, full crown.
The golden-green leafy branchlets remain on the plant throughout the year. Numerous tips at different levels create its natural outline.
What to expect after planting: Short branches cluster near the centre while roots establish. Softly curving laterals extend sideways and new golden tips appear above greener interior growth.
History & origin Cultivar origin Found in the mid-1950s at F. J. Grootendorst’s nursery in Boskoop
‘Old Gold’ was found in the mid-1950s at F. J. Grootendorst’s nursery in Boskoop, the Netherlands, growing on a plant of ‘Pfitzeriana Aurea’.
The selection was retained for its more compact, lower growth and mellower golden-green colour. It subsequently became established as a distinct cultivar in the Juniperus × pfitzeriana group.
Greenleaf for Plant Nerds Science nobody asked for Botanical details for anyone curious about what lies behind the plant’s appearance
A hybrid with four chromosome sets
‘Old Gold’ belongs to the allotetraploid Juniperus × pfitzeriana group: it combines four chromosome sets derived from different species. Its nuclear DNA contains genetic features linking the group to Juniperus chinensis and Juniperus sabina var. balkanensis.
Frequently asked questions
Straightforward care for the light, moisture and shape of ‘Old Gold’.
01Which light keeps ‘Old Gold’ warm and luminous?
Full, even sun develops the richest mellow gold across the exposed outer tiers. Shaded areas retain more green.
02How should a newly planted mound be watered?
Moisten the entire root area after the upper soil begins to dry, rather than sprinkling only the golden surface. Never leave the crown in persistent dampness.
03What irrigation suits an established ‘Old Gold’?
Wait for a moderate drying interval, then give a deep soak that reaches the whole root system. This supports steady growth without softening the layered form.
04What kind of pot supports its layered crown?
A stable, broad container with useful root depth gives the low branches space to extend. Reliable outlets must release surplus water promptly.
05How can an overlong branch be shortened cleanly?
Reach inside the mound and cut back to an appropriate side shoot, leaving the surrounding golden tips untouched. Surface shearing spoils the soft tiered finish.
06What winter colour should I expect?
Cold may enrich the mellow gold or add restrained bronze to the most exposed growth. Green undertones remain visible deeper in the plant.
📦 Your plant travels protected
Every order is prepared with care so your plant arrives upright, secure and safe.
Individual protection
Plants in pots with a capacity of 3 litres or more are placed in individual boxes that hold the pot securely and reduce the risk of tipping over.
Sturdy packaging
We use reinforced cardboard designed to protect against impacts and vibration during transport.