Parson's Juniper Juniperus chinensis 'Parsonii'
Other plants called Parson's Juniper:
- Phonetic Spelling
- jew-NIP-er-us chi-NEN-sis par-SON-ee-eye
- Description
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Juniperus chinensis 'Parsonii,' or Parson's juniper, is a dense, low-growing, spreading, evergreen shrub cultivar and is a member of the cypress family (Cupressaceae). This conifer grows 2 to 3 feet tall and spreads 4 to 10 feet wide, with an upright branching habit. Its mature foliage is soft, bluish-green to grayish-green, scale-like, and feathery. The young foliage is prickly and needle-like. It is often used to help control erosion. This cultivar was named in honor of Parsons Nursery in Long Island, New York.
Prefers full sun and moist to dry, well-drained soils. It will tolerate some shade and a variety of soil types. It is heat-, salt-, and drought-tolerant and easy to grow. It is intolerant of wet soils and foot traffic. It is hardy in zones 4 through 9.
For year-round interest, use Parson's juniper as a ground cover, on banks or slopes to prevent erosion, as a foundation planting, or filler between shrubs.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Monitor for bagworms, scale, webworms, and mites. Wet soils or poorly drained soils can cause root rot. May be susceptible to blight and fungal diseases. As this cultivar matures, it becomes less dense and woody, and may need to be replaced.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a fact sheet on common juniper diseases and insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Juniperus
- Species:
- chinensis
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Wildlife Value:
- Nesting site for birds.
- Play Value:
- Colorful
- Easy to Grow
- Textural
- Wildlife Cover/Habitat
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer, salt, air pollution
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Dense
- Multi-stemmed
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- The male cones produce pollen. The female cones appear on a separate plant and are berry-like.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- Non-flowering
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- The adult foliage is soft, feathery, scale-like, bluish-green to grayish-green. The young foliage is prickly and needle-like.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Rock Wall
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Heat
- Pollution
- Salt
