Juniperus conferta
Shore Juniper
Cupressaceae
ExpandHabitat
- zone 5
- native to sea coast of Japan
Habit and Form
- dense, evergreen shrub
- branches very flexible
- 1' to 2' tall and 6' to 9' wide
- slow growth
- medium texture
Summer Foliage
- awl-shaped needles, held in 3's
- needles tend to overlap
- needle tip sharply pointed
- concave needles with a white band on upper-side with a green line running through the middle
- bright blue-green color
Autumn Foliage
- evergreen, no fall color
- needles turn somewhat yellow in cold months
Flowers
- dioecious
- no ornamental value
Fruit
- 3-seeded cone
- 0.33" to 0.5" in diameter
- dark blue to black in color
- abundant
Bark
- reddish brown
- hard to see because of overlapping needles
Culture
- easily transplanted
- grows well in sandy soils
- full sun
- does not like moist soil conditions
- salt tolerant
Landscape Use
- allow to hang over walls
- roadside planting
- seaside plantings
- groundcover
- erosion control
- planters
- mass plantings
Liabilities
- dies back in wet soil conditions
- hardiness is questionable in zone 5 and colder
ID Features
- often confused with J. communis, but J. communis has a white stomatal line that is broader than the green margin, white J. conferta has a green line down the middle of a narrow white stomatal line.
- needles are in 3's
- needles pointed
- loose and floppy branches
- blue-green summer color
Propagation
- by cuttings
Cultivars/Varieties
'Blue Pacific' - This is the most common form, featuring blue-green foliage and a tight habit less than 1' tall and spreading wide to form a groundcover. It appears to be slightly more hardy than the species.
'Emerald Sea' - A U.S. National Arboretum introduction growing larger than 'Blue Pacific' (to 2' tall and 10' wide), this plant is hardier than the species and salt tolerant. It has a looser habit than 'Blue Pacific'.
'Irozam' (Iron Age™) - This new selection is marketed for its purported tolerance of harsh, dry conditions and salt exposure. It has a slightly more upright growth, to 12" tall and 6' wide.
'Silver Mist' (same as 'Shiro Toshio') - This new form is exceptional for its dense, silvery blue-green foliage and compact dense habit to 16" tall. The foliage develops a slight purple cast in winter.
'Sunsplash' (perhaps the same as 'Variegata' and 'Akebono') - A variegated form that appears ready to enter the mainstream, this plant features bluish green foliage with random sections of gold-yellow needles. The variegation appears to persist from year to year and remains fresh in all seasons.