What soil does Common juniper grow in?

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

Is Common juniper hardy?

Hardy down to -40 °C (USDA zone 3, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How far from the house should Common juniper be planted?

Plant it at least 1 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

How much water does Common juniper need?

Water need: low. Drought tolerance: high.

How much does Common juniper cost?

It sells for roughly €3.20 to €24 in local shops, depending on size.

Common juniper

Juniperus communis

Common juniper (Juniperus communis) is a shrub. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -40 °C. Drought tolerance: high. Sold in local shops from about €3.20.

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

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

A native, slow-growing evergreen with prickly needles and blue-black berry-like cones, planted in gardens mostly as its slender columnar cultivars for a vertical accent. It wants a sunny spot and free-draining soil, and copes well with poor, sandy or chalky ground and with drought, but not with standing water. The needles are sharp, so keep it away from the edge of paths and play areas, and tie columnar forms together for winter so snow does not splay them.

Watch out for

In Central Europe the juniper jewel beetle is now the most serious threat: its larvae tunnel under the bark, branches suddenly yellow and die, winding galleries show under the bark and oval exit holes on it, and a heavily attacked plant can die within a few years. Cut out and destroy affected branches and water plants weakened by drought, as these are attacked most. Columnar forms go bare and brown inside on dry, windy sites, snow splays them, and in polluted city air they get covered in scale insects. This species is not the host of pear rust, which lives on savin and Chinese junipers; common juniper carries related rust fungi that form orange, jelly-like growths on the branches in spring and move on to hawthorn and rowan.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Low
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 2.5 m × 80 cm
Hardiness: down to -40 °C
Foliage: Evergreen

Group	Shrub
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	2.5 m × 80 cm
Ultimate size	1.5–8 m × 0.6–4 m
Hardiness	down to -40 °C (USDA 3, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic, Clay
Foliage	Evergreen
Flowering	no data
Harvest	September–October
Water need	Low
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	at least 1 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	100 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	from about €3.20

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

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
10-20 cm	approx. €14
15-20 cm	approx. €7
20-30 cm	approx. €8.50
20-40 cm	approx. €10
20-25 cm	approx. €24
25-30 cm	approx. €8
30-40 cm	approx. €10

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 13, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Shrubs for part shade Drought-tolerant plants Drought-tolerant shrubs Drought-tolerant plants for sandy soil Plants for screening Evergreen plants Low-maintenance shrubs Plants for a Mediterranean garden Fragrant plants Fragrant shrubs Plants with edible fruit Edible plants for screening

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Common juniper vs Chinese juniper Common juniper vs Eastern red cedar

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