Species Chinese juniper
green bush with dark-green, scaly leaves, growing on messy land with brown stem

Chinese juniper

Juniperus pfitzeriana 'Sea Green'

Chinese Juniper (Juniperus pfitzeriana 'Sea Green'), a hardy evergreen conifer, is perfect for small gardens and landscapes. Prized for its striking, bright emerald-green foliage, it provides year-round color, growth and texture with minimal effort. This slow-growing cultivar reaches a height and width of up to 8 feet when mature and tends to spread wide and low, making it an ideal choice as a spreading ground cover or low hedge. Its leaves stay attached to the branches for multiple years and provide excellent cover in winter when other plants lose theirs. Chinese Juniper is also quite drought tolerant and therefore requires minimal watering once it’s become established.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Cutting,Layering Propagation,Grafting Propagation,Air Layering Propagation,Division

Hardiness Zone:

4 - 9

Flowers:

Non-flowering Flowers

Sun:

Full sun

Cones:

Yes

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Chinese junipers should be watered once every week or 2, depending on how dry the soil around them feels. They need about an inch of water each time you water them, so make sure to water them slowly and deeply to ensure that the soil gets thoroughly saturated. During dry summer months, it is necessary to increase the frequency of watering to keep them looking healthy and vigorous.

sunlight

Chinese juniper plants thrive in full sun and need at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day to remain healthy. If located in an area with partial sun, the juniper will need more hours of sunlight to thrive. The most ideal conditions for a Chinese juniper is when the plant gets morning sun and afternoon shade for optimal growth. This type of sun exposure helps protect the Chinese juniper from excessive heat and sun damage.

pruning

Pruning for Chinese Juniper is best done in the late winter and early spring months so as to avoid shock and ensure a lush, healthy growth period. Pruning should be done carefully, as unnecessary or excessive trimming may destroy the natural beauty of this plant species. It is important to prune only as much as is necessary to maintain the plant’s desired shape. Chinese Junipers are relatively slow-growing and need minimal pruning. While it may be beneficial to trim off any dead or damaged branches, it is not necessary to prune every season. As a general rule, only a light to moderate pruning, taking off no more than 1-quarter of the shoots, should be done each year. Doing so will help keep the plant's natural shape.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Chinese juniper typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Starts Flowering

Chinese juniper typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Hardiness Map