Plant Library
San Jose Juniper
Juniperus chinensis 'San Jose'
Height: 12 inches
Spread: 5 feet
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 4a
Description:
A popular low growing groundcover evergreen with attractive gray-green needle-like foliage, wide spreading habit; ideal for use as a low groundcover in sunny dry locations, excellent in the foundation garden
Ornamental Features
San Jose Juniper is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the garden for its broadly spreading habit of growth. It has attractive grayish green evergreen foliage. The scale-like sprays of foliage are highly ornamental and remain grayish green throughout the winter. It produces powder blue berries from late spring to late winter.
Landscape Attributes
San Jose Juniper is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a ground-hugging habit of growth. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which should be used to full effect.
This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.
San Jose Juniper is recommended for the following landscape applications;
- Mass Planting
- General Garden Use
- Groundcover
Planting & Growing
San Jose Juniper will grow to be about 12 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.
This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.