Japanese garden juniper (Juniperus procumbens)

Japanese garden juniper

Features and Characteristics

Juniperus procumbens, commonly called Japanese garden juniper, is a dwarf, procumbent, shrubby ground cover that grows 8-18” (sometimes to 24”) tall and spreads over time by long trailing branches to form a dense mat 10-15’ wide. It is native to Japan. Branches spread parallel to and slightly above the ground. Growth is somewhat slow, typically taking 10 years to spread 10 feet. Spiny-pointed blue-green to gray-green needles (to 1/3” long) are primarily linear and appear in whorls of three. Fleshy seed cones (blackish berries at maturity) are often absent on cultivated plants. Synonymous with J. chinensis var. procumbens.

Genus name comes from the Latin name for the juniper.

Specific epithet means prostrate.

Care and Maintenance

Grow in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Adapts to a wide range of soils, but prefers a dryish, sandy soil. Tolerates hot, dry growing conditions, somewhat poor soils and many city air pollutants. Intolerant of wet soils.

Japanese garden juniper (Juniperus procumbens) Requirements

Hardiness zone	4 - 9
Sun light	Full sun
Water	Medium
Maintenance	Low

Common Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Junipers are generally susceptible to blights (dieback of stem tips), particularly in unusually rainy/wet springs. Phomopsis twig blight is of particular concern. Cedar-apple and related rust diseases spend part of their life cycle on junipers. Root rot may occur, particularly in wet, poorly drained soils. Occasional insect pests include aphids, bagworms, twig borers, webworms and scale. Watch for spider mites. Foliage on mature plants will sometimes die back in the center.

Uses

A versatile, sprawling ground cover that tolerates hot, dry locations in full sun. Rock gardens. Foundations. Slopes. Mass plantings. Cascade over retaining walls.

Japanese garden juniper (Juniperus procumbens) Details

Common name	Japanese garden juniper
Botanical name	Juniperus procumbens
Plant type	Needled evergreen
Family	Cupressaceae
Hardiness zone	4 - 9
Water	Medium
Maintenance	Low
Flower color	Non-flowering
Flowering period	Non-flowering
Height	0.50 to 1.50 feet
Width	10 - 15 ft.