Microbiota decussata 'Prides'

Microbiota is a monotypic genus of a shade-loving juniper substitute that we've grown since the late 1980s. Microbiota decussata hails from Northern Primorsky Krai in the Russian Far East (just north of the Hermit Kingdom, North Korea). In short, the climate is cold and dry. Being root disease prone, it required perfect siting just to survive our hot, humid, wet summers. It was not until the recent introduction of the heat-tolerant, disease-resistant, Microbiota 'Prides', that we were able to properly utilize this amazing plant. In the garden, this new industry standard produces a juniper-textured shrub to 1' tall x 7' wide. In summer, the color is olive green, changing to a lovely bronze in winter. In our trials, it's been an exceptionally tough plant as long as the drainage is excellent and it's exposed to less than four hours of direct sun. This selection traces back to the late professor and plant explorer, Ed Corbett of the University of Connecticut.