Dwarf Japanese Garden Juniper Juniperus procumbens 'Nana'

The Dwarf Japanese Garden Juniper 'Nana' is a cultivar that is an evergreen, conifer, low-growing shrub that may reach from 6 inches to 1 foot tall and 5 to 6 feet wide. The cultivar, 'Nana,' forms a dense compact mat with branches that tend to intertwine and spread out in sprays. The leaves are prickly needles that are bluish-green, linear to lanceolate, awl-shaped, spiny, pointed, 1/4 inch long, and appear in whorls of three. In the winter months, the needles have a slightly purplish hue. The plant can become wide-spreading over time if space permits or will mound upon itself if space is limited. It grows up over obstacles such as low walls or rocks. This plant has a slow growth rate, and it is frequently used for bonsai.

Dwarf Japanese Garden Juniper 'Nana' was introduced in Japan in 1922. It is a member of the Cupressaceae or cypress family. 

The genus name, Juniperus, is Latin for juniper. The specific epithet, procumbens, means low growing or prostrate.

This plant needs full sun and open space. It is tolerant of a variety of soils, thrives under adversity, and is easily transplanted, It is deer, drought, erosion, heat, and dry soils tolerant. 

The Dwarf Japanese Garden Juniper 'Nana' is a versatile, sprawling, and cascading ground cover that may be used for bonsai or in the landscape as a border, in a rock garden, or in mass plantings. 

Seasons of Interest:

Foliage: Year-round

Quick ID Hints:

• Stiff branches vary in length, tips are ascending
• Awl-shaped leaves are in whorls of 3 and are pointy
• Leaves are bluish-green and turn slightly purplish in winter
• Undersides of leaves have 2 white dots at the base
• Plant is a dwarf, evergreen, matting shrub

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:   This shrub does not have many serious insect or disease problems, although it is susceptible to blight and spider mites. Due to the prickly needles, skin irritation may occur. It is best to wear gloves when handling this plant.

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.

More information on Juniperus procumbens.