Japanese garden juniper

Sun

Full sun; light shade is tolerated, but growth becomes looser and foliage may be less dense.

Water

Water regularly during the first growing season, letting the soil begin to dry between waterings. Once established, water during prolonged drought; avoid persistently wet soil.

Soil

Well-drained sandy, gravelly or loamy soil, from acidic to alkaline. Heavy clay is suitable only where drainage is good.

Height

0.5-1 ft (0.15-0.3 m)

Spread

4-6 ft (1.2-1.8 m), occasionally wider with age

Foliage

Evergreen. Short, pointed, blue-green needles held in whorls of three. Foliage may develop purplish or bronze tones in cold weather.

Growth

Slow to moderate

Care needed

Low

• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Cold hardy
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   0.7 ft (0.22 m)

   full size

About 7 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Growth rate

Slow

• Plant with the root flare at soil level, allowing room for the full spread.
• Water deeply during establishment, then reduce watering as roots develop.
• Use a thin gravel or organic mulch around young plants, keeping it away from the main stems.
• Feed lightly in spring only if growth is weak or the soil is poor; established plants usually need no feeding.
• Keep fallen leaves and other debris from accumulating within the foliage.

Pruning. In spring, remove dead or damaged branches and shorten stray shoots back to a leafy side branch. Avoid shearing or cutting into bare old wood, which rarely produces new growth.

Spring

Plant when the soil is workable and not waterlogged; water thoroughly after planting.

Spring

Remove winter-damaged branches and lightly shorten any shoots extending beyond the available space.

Summer

Check newly planted shrubs during dry spells and water deeply when the root zone begins to dry.

Summer

Inspect browning foliage for mites, webbing or dead shoot tips before choosing a treatment.

Late summer

Take semi-ripe cuttings from healthy shoots if you want more plants.

Autumn

Remove fallen leaves trapped among the branches and check that drainage remains clear.

Winter

Keep de-icing salt and salty snow away from the foliage and root zone.

• Plant among boulders in a rock garden, where its low branches soften hard edges.
• Let it trail over a low retaining wall without blocking views.
• Use repeated groups on a sunny bank for evergreen cover that needs little mowing or pruning.
• Pair it with upright dwarf conifers and ornamental grasses for contrasting shapes and textures.
• Grow it in a large, freely drained container as a low evergreen feature.

Garden styles it suits: Japanese, Zen dry garden, Dry gravel garden, Low-maintenance, Winter interest and Alpine rock garden.

Plant it with: Dwarf mugo pine, Blue fescue, Creeping thyme, English lavender, Hens-and-chicks and Creeping phlox.

Wildlife: Dense branches provide shelter for small animals and invertebrates. Berry-like cones are uncommon on this cultivar, so it is not a dependable food source for birds.

• Root rot in wet soil: improve drainage and reduce watering; remove badly affected plants rather than replanting into the same waterlogged conditions.
• Spider mites causing stippled, dull or bronzed foliage: confirm mites by tapping a branch over white paper, then rinse foliage thoroughly; use a labelled insecticidal soap if needed.
• Juniper tip blights causing dead shoot tips: prune affected shoots back into healthy growth during dry weather, clean tools and avoid overhead watering.
• Bagworms, especially in parts of the United States: remove and destroy bags by hand before eggs hatch; treat young feeding larvae only with a locally approved product.

Juniper foliage and berry-like cones contain oils that can cause stomach upset if eaten by people, cats or dogs; large amounts may cause more serious illness. Do not use this ornamental cultivar for food. Toxicity to horses is not well established for this cultivar, so keep clippings out of grazing areas. Prickly foliage and sap can irritate skin.

• Creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis)

  Usually forms a flatter carpet with mostly tiny, overlapping scale leaves on mature growth; 'Nana' has conspicuous, pointed needles and a more cushioned outline.

• Blue Star juniper (Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star')

  Forms a compact, rounded mound with more intensely silvery-blue foliage rather than the broad, trailing branches of 'Nana'.

• Shore juniper (Juniperus conferta)

  Also spreads low and has prickly needles, but its needles are generally longer and its shoots have a coarser, more open appearance.

Procumbens means lying or trailing along the ground, while 'Nana' means dwarf, describing this cultivar's low growth.

Propagation. Take semi-ripe cuttings with a small heel in late summer and root them in a freely draining medium under humid conditions. Rooting can be slow. Layering low branches is another option; seed will not reliably reproduce 'Nana'.

Accepted botanical name

Juniperus procumbens

Native range

Japan, Korea and Nansei-shoto.

Measured

Average height 75 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.