What soil does Savin juniper grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, sandy, calcareous, clay, acidic.

Is Savin juniper hardy?

Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

Is Savin juniper toxic to children?

Yes, it is highly toxic to children: even a small amount can be life-threatening.

How far from the house should Savin juniper be planted?

Plant it at least 2 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

Savin juniper

Juniperus sabina

Savin juniper (Juniperus sabina) is a shrub. Light: full sun. Hardy down to -34 °C. Drought tolerance: high. Highly toxic to children.

Illustration of Savin juniper — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

One of the toughest spreading junipers: the forms most often grown in gardens ('Tamariscifolia', 'Rockery Gem', 'Blue Danube') stay half a metre to a metre tall and spread two to three metres wide, with overlapping dark green or blue-grey branches. It suits sunny banks, rock gardens, covering larger areas and modern gravel gardens, and copes well with limy, dry, poor soil, heat and city air, but not with standing water. It is highly poisonous, so think twice if you have small children or pets, wear gloves when pruning, and choose another juniper if you grow pears.

Watch out for

It is the main host of pear rust (Gymnosporangium sabinae): the fungus overwinters in the juniper's branches, causes spindle-shaped swellings that push out orange, jelly-like spore masses in wet spring weather, and from there infects nearby pear trees, which show bright orange leaf spots in summer. If you or your neighbours grow pears, do not plant it, and cut out swollen branches. In Central Europe the juniper jewel beetle has also become a serious threat in recent years: its larvae tunnel under the bark, shoots suddenly turn yellow and branches die one after another; it mostly attacks drought-stressed plants, so remove infested branches and water in long dry spells. Tip blight can occur in wet springs and root rot in wet, heavy soil; spider mites appear in hot spots, and aphids and scale insects now and then.

Highly toxic

All parts are highly poisonous, above all the essential oil in the shoot tips (sabinene and sabinyl acetate). If swallowed it can cause vomiting, bloody inflammation of the stomach and gut, kidney damage, blood in the urine, convulsions and, in severe cases, unconsciousness and respiratory paralysis; even a small amount can be life-threatening, and it can cause miscarriage. The sap strongly irritates the skin and can cause blisters, so wear gloves when pruning. It is also poisonous to dogs and cats, so do not leave clippings within reach; if a child or animal has chewed it, get medical or veterinary help at once.

Key facts

Light: Full sun
Water need: Low
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 60 cm × 2 m
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Evergreen

Group	Shrub
Light	Full sun
Size after 10 years	60 cm × 2 m
Ultimate size	0.5–1.5 m × 1.5–3 m
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous, Clay, Acidic
Foliage	Evergreen
Flowering	no data
Water need	Low
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 2 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	120 cm
For dogs	Toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Toxic (uncertain)
For children	Highly toxic
Typical price	no data

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 19, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Ground cover plants Drought-tolerant plants Drought-tolerant shrubs Drought-tolerant plants for sandy soil Evergreen plants Low-maintenance shrubs Plants for a Mediterranean garden