Plant encyclopedia›Japanese garden juniper

Japanese garden juniper

Also known as: Japanese garden juniper, procumbent juniper, dwarf Japanese juniper

Juniperus procumbens is a low-growing, evergreen conifer forming a wide, mat-like spreading shrub. Its foliage consists of dense, prickly, blue-green to grey-green needle-like leaves. It is dioecious, with small inconspicuous flowers and fleshy, berry-like cones that are blue-green and glaucous. The plant is valued for its texture, year-round colour and ability to cascade over walls or spread as ground cover. It is slow-growing and typically reaches 0.5–1 m tall with a spread of 2–4 m.

Scientific classification

Species: Japanese garden juniper (Juniperus procumbens)
Genus: Information to be completed
Family: Cupressaceae

Toxic if ingested; foliage and berry-like cones can cause gastrointestinal upset, especially in pets.
Toxicity: Conifers · Shrubs · Foliage
Plant type: 0.5 - 1 metres
Height: 2 - 4 metres
Spread: Evergreen
Foliage: Spreading · Matforming
Habit: Spring · Summer · Winter
Season of interest: Full sun
Sunlight: 15 – 25 °C
Ideal temperature

Japanese garden juniper pictures

Information to be completed

Distribution of Japanese garden juniper

Distribution map

Japan

Information to be completed

Culture

Information to be completed

Toxicity

Toxic if ingested; foliage and berry-like cones can cause gastrointestinal upset, especially in pets.

Quick identification of Japanese garden juniper

Information to be completed

Japanese garden juniper care guide

Water deeply but infrequently; allow soil to dry between waterings
Watering: Full sun
Sunlight: 15 – 25 °C
Ideal temperature

Watering

Water deeply but infrequently; allow soil to dry between waterings

Fertilizing

Once a year in early spring with a balanced slow-release fertilizer

Pruning

Prune lightly in late winter to early spring to maintain shape; avoid cutting into old bare wood.

Propagation

Propagate by semi-hardwood heel cuttings in late summer to early autumn; root in a well-drained mix with bottom heat at about 18–21°C. Seed can be sown in autumn after cold stratification, but germination is slow and variable.

Growing

Grow in any well-drained soil in full sun; it tolerates poor, sandy, rocky and chalky soils but resents waterlogging. Water regularly during establishment, then only in prolonged drought; established plants are drought tolerant. Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer once in early spring if growth is poor; avoid overfeeding, which can make growth lax. Prune lightly in late winter to early spring to shape or confine spread, but do not cut back into old bare wood. In containers, protect the rootball from hard freezing and avoid winter wet.

More growing and care information →