Buffalo Juniper

Buffalo Juniper is a low, wide-spreading evergreen groundcover with feathery bright green foliage — ideal for slopes, foundation beds, and erosion control in Apple Valley, Burnsville, and Lakeville.

About Buffalo Juniper

Why You'll Love Buffalo Juniper

Deer-resistant evergreen

Junipers handle the worst Minnesota conditions — sun, dry soils, deer, road salt.

Privacy + foundation

Upright forms for screens; spreading forms for foundations and slopes.

Winter interest

Year-round color and structure against snow.

Low spreading groundcover juniper with soft texture

Softer texture than other spreading junipers. That's why Buffalo Juniper has earned a spot in our Minnesota launch catalog — it's a juniper we're confident will thrive in your Twin Cities landscape.

Planting Buffalo Juniper in the Twin Cities

Best planting window: Spring (mid-April through early June) or early fall (late August through late September). Avoid planting during peak summer heat — Twin Cities heat waves can stress newly installed root balls.

Site selection: Full sun (6+ hrs). Choose a location with the mature size of 8-12in tall × 6-8ft wide in mind — give Buffalo Juniper room to fill out without crowding fences, sidewalks, or neighboring plants.

Soil prep: Tolerates Minnesota clay-loam, sandy soils. Excellent drainage required. If your Twin Cities yard has heavy clay (common in Plymouth, Eden Prairie, and Wayzata), amend the planting hole with 25-30% compost to improve drainage. For sandy soils in parts of Anoka and Washington counties, mix in compost to improve water retention.

How to plant:

1. Dig a hole 2× the width of the root ball and the same depth.
2. Loosen the sides of the hole — slick clay walls block root expansion.
3. Set Buffalo Juniper so the top of the root ball is 1-2" above grade.
4. Backfill with native soil mixed 25% with compost. Tamp gently.
5. Water deeply (5+ gallons) immediately after planting.
6. Mulch 2-3" deep, keeping mulch 2" away from the stem.

Watering & Care

First year (establishment): Water deeply 1-2× per week from April through October. Buffalo Juniper needs consistent moisture to develop a strong root system for its first Minnesota winter. Check soil moisture 4-6" deep — water when the top 2-3" feels dry.

Established (year 2+): Low. Highly drought-tolerant. During typical Twin Cities summers, supplemental water during 2+ week dry spells is enough.

Winter prep: Water deeply in late October before ground freeze — this protects Buffalo Juniper through dry winter winds. Apply a fresh 2-3" layer of mulch in November to insulate the root zone through deep freezes.

Pruning: Prune lightly in late spring or early summer. Avoid cutting into bare wood.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Buffalo Juniper hardy in Minnesota?
Yes. Buffalo Juniper is rated for zones 3-9 (Twin Cities is zone 4b–5a) — the Twin Cities metro is zone 4b–5a, well within its hardiness range. Softer texture than other spreading junipers.

How fast does Buffalo Juniper grow?
Moderate — 12-18 inches per year. Expect mature size (8-12in tall × 6-8ft wide) within 5-8 years depending on site conditions and care.

Will deer eat Buffalo Juniper?
Rarely browsed — one of the most deer-resistant evergreens. In high-deer-pressure suburbs (Wayzata, Stillwater, Hudson), supplemental fencing or repellents may help young plants establish.

Can I plant Buffalo Juniper in part shade?
Full sun (6+ hrs).

What size gallon should I buy?
We typically offer Buffalo Juniper in #2, #5, #10, and sometimes larger gallon sizes. Smaller sizes establish faster and cost less; larger sizes give instant impact. For most Twin Cities residential landscapes, #5 or #10 gallon is the sweet spot.

Where We Deliver

Three Timbers Minnesota delivers and installs Buffalo Juniper across the Twin Cities metro — Minneapolis, St. Paul, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Edina, Eden Prairie, Minnetonka, Wayzata, Bloomington, Apple Valley, Burnsville, Lakeville, Eagan, Roseville, Shoreview, Stillwater, Woodbury, Hudson, Hopkins, St. Louis Park, Chanhassen, Excelsior, Victoria, Chaska, and surrounding communities. Live Buffalo Juniper grown for our climate and delivered fresh from our Waconia, MN nursery.

How Many Buffalo Juniper Do I Need?

Buffalo Juniper spreads 6–8 feet wide, so space plants 5–6 feet apart for slope or bed coverage — figure roughly one plant per 25–30 square feet:

For a slope, stagger rows in a zigzag so the mats knit together and stop erosion faster.

Buffalo Juniper Season-by-Season in Minnesota

• Spring: Fresh, feathery bright green growth pushes along every shoot tip as the mat resumes spreading.
• Summer: A dense, soft-textured green carpet that shrugs off heat and drought once established.
• Fall: Holds its bright green color while deciduous neighbors drop — a steady evergreen anchor.
• Winter: Stays green under and above the snow, giving slopes and foundation beds year-round structure.

At a Glance

✔ Deer-Resistant   ✔ Salt-Tolerant   ✔ Drought-Tolerant   ✔ Evergreen   ✔ Four-Season Interest

Plant It With

• Broadmoor Juniper — a fellow Savin juniper with the same toughness for layering larger slopes.
• Blue Star Juniper — steel-blue mounds that contrast beautifully with Buffalo's bright green.
• Goldfinger Potentilla — long-blooming yellow flowers above the evergreen carpet.
• Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass — vertical plumes that rise out of the low juniper mat.

Is Buffalo Juniper Right for Your Yard?

Choose Buffalo Juniper for a full-sun spot with well-drained soil — slopes, banks, foundation strips, and hot boulevard edges where deer pressure and road salt rule out fussier plants. It's not a fit for shade or poorly drained, soggy ground — wet feet and low light thin out the mat — and it needs 6+ feet of width to spread without constant trimming.