creeping juniper

Creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis) is an American species of juniper characterized by its prostrate or procumbent rooting stems. Junipers belong to the genus Juniperus, which comprises about 60 to 70 species of aromatic evergreen trees or shrubs found throughout the Northern Hemisphere.12

These plants typically have needle-like juvenile leaves and awl-shaped mature leaves arranged in pairs or whorls. Their cones are fleshy and berry-like, often with a waxy coating, and contain seeds. While some junipers are cultivated for their timber, others, like the creeping juniper, are popular ornamental species. The "berries" of the common juniper (Juniperus communis) are used to flavor food and alcoholic beverages, most notably gin.2