Probably a generic plant tag that they use on ALL the junipers they sell. This is only one of many reasons why purchasing plants at a box store, rather than at a proper retail nursery or garden center, is not the great bargain or cost savings many think it is :-)

and do understand.. conifers are trees .. they really never stop growing ...

size estimates on a properly named plant are at ten years ... and you can easily presume double size at 20 years ...

ken

"conifers are trees"

Not if they are groundcovers :-) Groundcover conifers typically do not exceed much beyond listed heights unless a specific growing condition (like crowding) dictates and while they do spread, there IS a limit to that as well.

The generalization that you can expect double the listed size at 20 years is not necessarily appropriate to ALL woody plants.

conifers typically do not exceed much beyond listed heights unless a
specific growing condition (like crowding) dictates and while they do
spread, there IS a limit to that as well

By what means, specifically, do you imagine a still living woody plant of any type completely stops growing at some point?

LOL!! Notice that you very conveniently edited to omit the 'groundcover' designation, which is what I was referring to specifically. And I never said they "completely stop growing".

Try reading what I wrote again - perhaps it will become clearer.

'Blue Rug' juniper seldom exceeds 6-12" in height regardless of how long it has been planted. Its primary growth is focused horizontally and that can become a significant spread over time but is not infinite. Even those examples in place for 20-30 years will seldom extend more than about 10-12 feet in diameter. So assuming the tag states a 6" height and 6-8' spread in 10 years (Monrovia) it is not reasonable or accurate to assume the plant will automatically be 12" tall and 12-16' across in 20 years.

This is the first time I've purchased conifers from a big box store, so I suppose it's a lesson learned the hard way. They were small enough last spring that I couldn't get a sense of the growth habit, which sure doesn't seem to be the "horizontalis" variety I was expecting. My original plan for conifers in that area was a spreading scots pine, but after taking 5 years to get the one I planted on the other side of the driveway established (it looked ratty until this spring), I decided something lower maintenance would work better. So much for that idea...

I purchase groundcovers and other "generic" (widely available) plants at big box stores occasionally because they often have smaller pots than what I can find at the garden centers, and particularly when I'm digging multiple holes (and around established trees) smaller pots is a huge benefit. But this is a good lesson in being more careful buying plants I'm not that familiar with at a big box store :(

Thanks for the information. My gut was telling me something wasn't right about them, but I was hoping I was wrong.

Guys, guys...for an interesting and educational look at just how and why trees ever stop growing, look into the work of noted west coast tree researcher James Clark. No, I don't have a specific link in mind-I saw him live-but so far as I'm aware, Clark has done more than anyone else to look into exactly what mechanism-or failure of same-leads to senescence in long-lived species. Hint: It has to do with pumping water to great heights.

yeah that stinkin gravity is such a reality bummer.. lol ... resin told us long ago ... that is was speculated.. that some redwood at 385 feet tall or some such.. simply could not pump water any higher ... which is basically what tom said ...

but the problem here gal ... is i dont see a precise ID that this plant is a groundcover ...

the actual plant in the first pic.. is already growing at a 45 degree angle ... it is NOT on the ground ... and if its already 18 inches off the ground [just guessing from the pic ...] .... its going to be 24 or 30 inches off the ground in another year or two ... which is getting darn close to her max wish size ...

and.. being a tree... it will continue that growth ... upward.. forever ... or until pruned down ...and Js are not a fun tree to prune.. they will hurt skin ...

ken

I agree, Ken - we don't specifically know if the conifer planted in the ground is a groundcover form or not. Looks more like one of the shrubby forms of J. chinensis to me (and these also will not produce unending upwards growth :-)) But the plant on the photo tag is definitely a groundcover juniper and if that is a generic tag for any juniper HD sells, no wonder the OP was confused!! I'd consider that to be pretty misleading.

so far as I'm aware, Clark has done more than anyone else to look into
exactly what mechanism-or failure of same-leads to senescence in
long-lived species. Hint: It has to do with pumping water to great
heights

See relevant papers under Tree structure and function.

http://www2.humboldt.edu/redwoods/publications.php

Do plants actually "pump" water, or do they just draw it out of the ground and transport it to the leaves via capillary action?