Sargent Juniper Juniperus chinensis var. sargentii
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- jew-NIP-er-us chi-NEN-sis va-RY-eh-tee sar-JEN-tee-eye
- Description
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A mat-like shrub, Juniperus sargentii, commonly known as Sargent Juniper, is good for groundcover as it grows in a prostrate form with ascending branchlets to only two feet. Plants should be spaced 6 to 8 feet apart for spreading. It resembles the genus in adult scale-like leaves of blue-green and juvenile whorled needle-like leaves. It is aromatic and evergreen. The male plants have cones and the female cone is a fleshy blue berry like. It grows best in a sunny location in well-drained average soil. This plant withstands heat, deer, pollution and is moderately salt tolerant, but is subject to Cedar-Apple Rust disease and root rot in wet areas.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: See the "Pests of Conifers" fact sheet to the left.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common juniper diseases and insect pests.
Details of Juniperus chinensis follow, many of which apply to Sargent.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Mountain Ridge Top Garden - North Lawn and Upper Drive Border
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Juniperus
- Species:
- chinensis
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- China, Mongolia, Japan, Himalayas
- Wildlife Value:
- Food source
- Play Value:
- Edible fruit
- Fragrance
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer, salt, ,air pollution, heat
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 8 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:
- Prostrate
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- No true fruits, but female cones are blue, fleshy "berry" looking and edible, often used as a seasoning.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- No flowers, but cones are large and brown and fall apart upon maturity. Female cones are blue fleshy "berry" looking.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Prickly
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Scale-like gray-green adult leaves, juvenile needle-like in whorls of three. Closely set. Camphor-like fragrance when crushed.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Light Brown
- Bark Description:
- Ridged and fissured peeling in thin strips
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Procumbent stems.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Recreational Play Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Children's Garden
- Design Feature:
- Foundation Planting
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Salt
- Urban Conditions
