The Russian arborvitae is a low-growing, prostrate, mat-forming, dwarf evergreen conifer that is frequently known as the Russian arborvitae or Siberian cypress. It is a shrub-like ground cover that grows from 6 to 18 inches tall and spreads up to 12 feet wide. The bright green scale-like or awl-shaped foliage is feathery, soft, and arranged in flat sprays. In the fall and winter, the foliage transitions to bronze-purple, copper bronze, to red. The fruits are tiny, round, berry-like cones that have woody scales. It has the habit of creeping juniper, and the foliage is similar to the genus Thuja or arborvitae. Unlike creeping juniper, the branch tips of the Russian arborvitae nod downward, and it is also more shade tolerant.