Juniperus procumbens
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Juniperus chinensis var. procumbens
- Phonetic Spelling
- jew-NIP-er-us pro-KUM-benz
- Description
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Japanese juniper is a dwarf, needled, evergreen shrub, a native of southern Japan with low, prostrate, branches that spread parallel and low to the ground. At maturity, it is under 2 feet high, but its long trailing branches can have a spread of up to 15 feet. The genus name comes from the Latin name for the juniper and the species name means prostrate.
Japanese juniper grows best in full sun, in average, well-drained soils. It tolerates a wide range of soils, including poor soil, but prefers a dry, sandy soil. It also does well in hot and dry conditions, or in urban environments. However, it does not tolerate wet soils.
Japanese juniper, because of its size and spread, is typically used as a ground cover that, over time, forms a large, dense mat. It can be severely pruned. It is especially suited to rock gardens or cascading over retaining walls. Growth is slow and it often takes up more than 10 years to reach its maximum spread. This plant is seldom damaged by deer and is moderately salt tolerant.
Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: In general, junipers are susceptible to blights that cause stem tips to die back. Rust diseases spend part of their life cycle on junipers. Root rot may occur in wet, poorly drained soils. Insect pests include aphids, bag worms, twig borers, web worms and spider mites.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common pests and diseases.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy, and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Kishiogima'
Multi-colored with seasonal changes in color
'Nana'
dwarf, height of 18" - 'Kishiogima'
- 'Kishiogima', 'Nana'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Kishiogima'
Multi-colored with seasonal changes in color
'Nana'
dwarf, height of 18" - 'Kishiogima'
- 'Kishiogima', 'Nana'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Juniperus
- Species:
- procumbens
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Western and southern Korea, southern Japan to Nansei-shoto.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Horizontal
- Prostrate
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- 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 Color:
- Black
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Description:
- Fleshy seed cones (blackish berries at maturity) are often absent on cultivated plants. Pollen cones shed their pollen in spring. Seed cones mature about 18 months after pollination.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- This plant does not flower.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Prickly
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Whorled
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Spiny blue-green to gray-green needles (to 1/3 of an inch long) are primarily linear and appear in whorls of three. The foliage retains its color in winter.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Branches spread parallel to and slightly above the ground. They tend to intertwine and form a dense mat.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Rock Wall
- Slope/Bank
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Foundation Planting
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Erosion
- Poor Soil
- Salt