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Juniperus conferta (shore juniper)
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Coniferous Shrubs

Juniperus conferta

shore juniper

Cupressaceae
Coastal Japan and Sakhalin Island (Russia); sand dunes, coastal bluffs, and sandy shores

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At a Glance

TypeShrub
HabitSpreading
FoliageEvergreen
Height0.5-1.5 feet (15-46 cm)
Width6-9 feet (1.8-2.7 m)
Maturity8 years

Growing Zones

USDA Hardiness Zones

5 - 9
Zone 5Zone 6Zone 7Zone 8Zone 9
These zones indicate the coldest temperatures this plant can typically survive.
What's my zone? →
Frost Tolerancehardy

Key Features

Deer ResistantDrought TolerantContainer Friendly
Maintenancevery low

Overview

Juniperus conferta is shore juniper (Japanese shore juniper), a prostrate spreading evergreen conifer growing 0.5-1.5 feet (15-46 cm) tall and 6-9 feet (1.8-2.7 m) wide. Blue-green to bright green needle-like foliage 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) with a white stomatal band, densely packed in whorls of 3. In Cupressaceae. Conferta = crowded. A coastal sand dune specialist from Japan. The most salt-tolerant juniper species. Sandy soil required — poor drainage causes root rot. This sand preference is the primary limitation. Dioecious. Very low water needs. Tolerates coastal wind and salt spray. Phomopsis tip blight possible in humidity. Non-toxic. Deer-resistant. Zones 5-9. Full sun. Growth rate is moderate.

Native Range

Native to coastal Japan and Sakhalin Island (Russia). Found on sand dunes, coastal bluffs, and sandy shores.

Suggested Uses

Grown as a prostrate evergreen ground cover on sandy sites, coastal slopes, and in large containers of at least 10 gallons (38 L) with sandy mix, spaced 6-9 feet (1.8-2.7 m). Most salt-tolerant juniper. Sand required. Non-toxic. Zones 5-9.

How to Identify

Identified by a dense prostrate mat of blue-green to bright green needle-like juniper foliage with a white stomatal band. The prostrate coastal habit and the needle-only foliage distinguish J. conferta from scale-leaved prostrate junipers. In Cupressaceae.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6" - 1'6"
Width/Spread6' - 9'

Reaches mature size in approximately 8 years

Colors

Flower Colors

yellow

Foliage Colors

blue green
green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~2 weeks
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Spring
Not ornamentally significant. Dioecious. Blue-black berry-like cones 0.3-0.5 inch (8-12 mm) on female plants. Wind-pollinated.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

Blue-green to bright green needle-like foliage 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) with a single white stomatal band on the upper surface, in whorls of 3; densely packed, creating a thick mat; evergreen year-round

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

Full Sun
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 8.0(Neutral)
357912
Soil Types
sand
Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Very Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Full sun (6-12 hours). Sandy well-drained soil pH 5.5-8.0 — poor drainage causes root rot. Very low water needs. Most salt-tolerant juniper. Phomopsis tip blight possible in humidity. Minimal pruning. Non-toxic. Deer-resistant. Zones 5-9.

Pruning

Prune in early spring (March-April) if needed to remove dead tips or control spread. The natural prostrate mat form requires minimal pruning.

Pruning Schedule

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early spring

Maintenance Level

very low

Container Growing

✓ Suitable for container growing

Minimum container size: 10 gallons

⚠️ Toxicity Warning

Non-toxic