What soil does Japanese garden juniper grow in?

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

Is Japanese garden juniper hardy?

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

How much water does Japanese garden juniper need?

Water need: low. Drought tolerance: high.

Japanese garden juniper

Juniperus procumbens

Japanese garden juniper (Juniperus procumbens) is a ground cover plant. Light: full sun. Hardy down to -34 °C. Drought tolerance: high. Sold in local shops from about €9.

Illustration of Japanese garden 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 very low, dense, blue-green evergreen mat: gardens almost always grow the dwarf form 'Nana', which stays barely a hand tall and slowly spreads to one and a half or two metres. It suits rock gardens, sunny slopes, the edge of a retaining wall and bonsai, and copes with hot, dry spots and poor soil, but not with standing water. It has no thorns, yet its pointed needles, set in threes, are prickly, so wear gloves when handling it and keep it away from places where you walk barefoot.

Watch out for

The stem tip blights typical of junipers (Phomopsis above all) show up in rainy, wet springs, and in airless, wet soil root rot can kill the plant. In hot, dry spots next to walls spider mites may attack and the foliage turns dull and greyish. Aphids, scale insects and bagworms can occur too. Junipers in general can carry rust fungi that spend part of their life cycle on them. The centre of old plants may die back and go bare.

Key facts

Light: Full sun
Water need: Low
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 25 cm × 1.2 m
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Evergreen

Group	Ground cover
Light	Full sun
Size after 10 years	25 cm × 1.2 m
Ultimate size	20–45 cm × 1.5–2 m
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous, Acidic
Foliage	Evergreen
Flowering	no data
Water need	Low
Drought tolerance	High
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	80 cm
For dogs	no data
For cats	no data
For children	no data
Typical price	from about €9

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
20-30 cm	approx. €9

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Ground cover plants Drought-tolerant plants Drought-tolerant plants for sandy soil Evergreen plants Plants for containers Plants for a Mediterranean garden

Looks good next to it

Bluebeard

Caryopteris × clandonensis

Wild privet

Ligustrum vulgare

Carthusian pink

Dianthus carthusianorum