Habitat

• native to China and Japan
• zone 4, depends on cultivar

Habit and Form

• evergreen
• tree, shrub or groundcover, dependent on cultivar
• species an erect, narrow, conical tree, 50' to 60' tall, varying in width
• slow to medium growth
• medium texture

Summer Foliage

• two kinds: adult or juvenile (scale and awl)
• adult: mature branches covered with 4 ranks of leaves in opposite pairs closely pressed, very short and blunt, needle is convex, margin marked with glandular depression
• juvenile needles are awl shaped, 0.33" long, arranged in whorls of 3 or opposite pairs, pointed, with two glaucous bands on upper-side of needle, convex
• needle color is green to either blue-green or gray-green

Autumn Foliage

• evergreen, no fall color

Flowers

• dioecious
• flowers in March
• flowers yellow to orange-brown
• no ornamental value
• occasionally a specimen will have both female and male flowers

Fruit

• globose, berry-like cones
• 0.33" to 0.5" in diameter
• pale blue when immature turning to a dark brown

Bark

• pale brown in color
• ridges and furrows on mature bark
• peels in thin strips

Culture

• easily transplanted
• prefers moist, well-drained soil, but very adaptable
• full sun
• pH adaptable
• once established little maintence required

Landscape Use

• wide range of landscape use dependent on cultivar selection
• groundcover
• hedges
• screens
• specimen
• mass plantings

Liabilities

• susceptible to Kabatina and Phomopsis blights which cause stem die-back
• susceptibility is cultivar dependent

ID Features

• juvenile awl-shaped needles
• green midrib on upper concave side
• most ID features vary with cultivars

Propagation

• cultivars by cuttings

Cultivars/Varieties

Dozens of Juniperius chinensis cultivars exist, but those listed below are some of the more common types that represent the range of habits and foliage colors available.

var. sargentii - Known as the "Sargent Juniper", this is a groundcover type with dense, vigorous bright green foliage all year. It grows to 1.5' - 2' tall with a 7' to 9' spread and is resistant to Juniper Blight. 'Glauca' has blue-green foliage and grows a bit smaller than var. sargentii. Otherwise it is similar.

'Aurea' (Gold Coast™) - A spreading form 1-3' tall and 6-8' wide, this form features new growth that is golden yellow. The foliage color deepens and persists well in to the winter.

'Bakaurea' (Gold Star®) - This plant has golden-tipped branches with a light green or blue-green body. It has shown good resistance to root problems and grows 4' tall and 6' wide.

'Blue Point' - A pyramidal form with a dense, upright habit, this selection features foliage that is bluish-green. It is commonly used as an accent, but can also function as a hedge. The plant grows to at least 8' tall.

'Hetzii' - A very common plant, this cultivar is an upright-spreading form that gets large quickly. It can reach up to 15' tall by 15' wide with branches spreading in all directions. The plant has silvery blue scale-like foliage and produces copious amounts of juniper "berries". It is an older, useful juniper when used in sites large enough to accommodate it. The plant is definitely not a subject for foundation plantings.

'Hetzii Columnaris' - This is an upright form about 10' to 15' tall and 4' to 6' wide, though it can get 25' tall. It appears similar to 'Keteleeri' with bright green needles, plus it is a heavy cone ("berry") producer.

'Hetzii Glauca' - A semi-erect spreader, this variety typically grows about 4' to 6' tall and 6 to 8' wide. The foliage is a blue-gray color.

'Iowa' - This plant grows to 10' high and 4' wide with an upright, informal habit and coarse, sharp blue-green foliage.

'Keteleeri' - A landscape staple -- especially in the Midwest -- this plant is an upright form that reaches about 15' tall (possibly 20'). It displays light green foliage year-round on a broad, pyramidal plant.

'Maney' (also known as 'Maneyi') - This is a semi-erect, spreading, bushy juniper with a bluish cast to its foliage. It exhibits excellent cold tolerance with a working landscape size of 4' to 6' tall and 6' to 10' wide. In time, the plant will get larger.

'Monlep' (Mint Julep™) - Possibly the same as 'Sea Green', this is a compact plant with arching, fountain-like branches. The foliage is a mint green color and is borne on a plant that grows to 4' to 6' tall and wide.

'Mountbatten' - This is a dense, compact-narrow form that grows up to 20' tall. The foliage is silver-green.

'Old Gold' - Considered by many to be the best of the golden-foliaged, spreading junipers, this is a graceful compact grower with lacy foliage. The golden foliage color holds well into the winter and the plant grows slowly to 4' to 5' wide and 2' to 3' tall.

'Pfitzeriana' (also listed as 'Pfitzerana') - Known as the "Pfitzer Juniper", this is a very old cultivar that has been widely planted and continues to be popular. It is a spreading plant that is relatively dense and broad with gray-green foliage. It typically attains a size of 3' tall and 10' wide, but can get nearly twice as large (especially if the plant is not pruned). The branches tend to arch slightly at a 45 degree angle, and old stems can assume a contorted habit.

'Pfitzeriana Aurea' - A spreading-broad plant similar to 'Pfitzeriana', this selection does not grow quite as large. In addition, the plant is notable for its golden-yellow new foliage in the summer that turns lighter yellow-green in winter.

'Pfitzeriana Compacta' - This is a compact dwarf with graceful, dense growing branches. It reaches about 3' tall and 4' to 6' wide. The foliage is gray-green with a greater percentage of awl-shaped leaves.

'Pfitzeriana Glauca' (also known as 'Blue Pfitzer') - This plant is clothed with soft, silvery-blue foliage on a plant with the same general habit as 'Pfitzeriana'. It turns light purplish-blue in winter.

'Prostrata Variegata' (perhaps the same as J. davurica 'Expansa Variegata') - A low-growing plant that seldom exceeds 2' tall, this plant spreads to 5' and features patches of creamy white among the blue-green foliage. It benefits from siting out of direct afternoon sun.

'Ramlosa' - Considered to be an improvement on the Pfitzer theme, this plant has feathery green foliage and a more compact form to 5' tall and 8' wide. It shows good cold hardiness.

'Robusta Green' - A medium-sized upright juniper, this plant reaches about 15' tall and 5 to 7' wide. It possesses dense, tufted, bright green foliage and is somewhat slow-growing.

'San Jose' - A low growing form to 1' to 2' tall and 6' to 8' wide, this cultivar has foliage that is greenish-blue. The plant performs well on dry banks, but is susceptible to juniper blight.

'Saybrook Gold' - Becoming more popular in the industry, this spreading plant sports strong yellow, needle-like foliage. The color is very bright and holds well in the winter (bronzing slightly). It grows to 3' tall and perhaps twice as wide.

'Sea Green' - Very popular in the trade, this is a spreading type with branches that arch upwards. It grows to 6' tall and wider with dark green foliage that darkens in winter.

'Sea Spray' - This is a groundcover type that grows prostrate and may rival J. horizontalis 'Blue Rug' and 'Bar Harbor' in time as it becomes more common in the trade. It rarely exceeds 16" tall, but has a spread of over 6' in time. The foliage is blue-green and softer in texture, plus the plant remains handsome in old age. In addition, early observation has revealed resistance to the diseases that plague junipers.

'Torulosa' (also known as 'Kaizuka') - Known as the "Hollywood Juniper", this is an upright plant with an artistic twisted and tufted appearance. The foliage is a medium green color, with a few awl-shaped leaves that are outnumbered by closely appressed scale-like needles. The plant can grow 20' to 30' tall with a tree-like habit. It possesses excellent salt tolerance.

'Variegata' - This is a conical form that bears irregular cream patches among the blue-green foliage.