Parson's Juniper Juniperus davurica 'Expansa'

'Expansa', is a tough, cold-hardy, evergreen juniper cultivar with long, spreading, slender branches that grows 2 to 3 feet high and 9 feet across. It has excellent heat tolerance, can handle fair amounts of shade, and thrives in most soils from slightly acidic to slightly alkaline.  A very adaptable plant, Parson's Juniper is especially well suited for the harsh, high humidity of the coastal southeastern United States.

This variety holds its sage green color very well all year long, with virtually no change in colder weather. This plant works well as an evergreen foreground plant, an accent plant, a low-growing ground cover along borders or rocky banks and under trees, or as a foundation plant, as long as it receives at least 4 hours of full sun per day.  It provides erosion control on steep slopes. Full sun is required for best ground coverage. This plant is easy to transplant and has no serious pest or disease problems. This variety is a relatively fast grower and will cover 2 to 3 feet in two growing seasons. Parsons Nursery in New York introduced this cultivar; hence the common name.

Quick ID Hints:

• Stout, rigid primary branches grow horizontally above the ground, forming a mound.
• Secondary branches form attractive, flat, dense spray.
• Produces berry-like cones that are globose, 1/4 inch, purplish-brown, and glaucous.
• Has awl and scale leaves that are a gray-sage green.
• Leaves have prominent glaucous markings around overlapping edges (alligator/reptilian-like).

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:   Aphids, bagworm, caterpillars, false spider mites, juniper scale, juniper tip mite, juniper webworm, and spruce spider mites are insect problems.  Cercospora needle blight, phomopsis blight, cedar apple rust, and fungal diseases are common.

The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common juniper diseases and insect pests.