Japanese Garden Juniper
Juniperus procumbens
A low-growing, evergreen conifer often cultivated as a bonsai, featuring dense, needle-like blue-green foliage and a twisting woody trunk.
- Light
- Full sun, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.
- Water
- Water when the soil surface becomes slightly dry. Do not let the root system sit in standing water, and avoid prolonged drought.
- Growth
- Perennial evergreen woody shrub with a creeping or spreading growth habit when unrestricted, cultivated to mature as a small bonsai tree.
Care instructions
Provide full sun exposure and water thoroughly when the top layer of soil dries out. Use a well-draining bonsai soil mix and feed with a balanced fertilizer during the active growing season.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun, requiring at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily.
Watering
Water when the soil surface becomes slightly dry. Do not let the root system sit in standing water, and avoid prolonged drought.
Soil
Fast-draining bonsai soil mix composed of akadama, pumice, and organic compost with a neutral to slightly acidic pH range of 6.0 to 7.0.
Hardiness zone
USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9
Growth habit
Perennial evergreen woody shrub with a creeping or spreading growth habit when unrestricted, cultivated to mature as a small bonsai tree.
Bloom season
Non-flowering
Propagation
Propagated primarily through stem cuttings taken in spring or late summer, or via layering.
Common pests & issues
Susceptible to spider mites, root rot from overwatering, and twig blight. Prevent by maintaining good air circulation and proper watering practices.
Similar species
Juniperus chinensis (Chinese Juniper), which tends to have a more upright growth form and differing foliage textures.