Japanese garden juniper
Juniperus procumbens 'Nana'
Japanese garden juniper (Juniperus procumbens 'Nana') is a shrub suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 1 ft tall and 4 to 6 ft wide, slow-growing, needs low to medium water, and prefers full sun. Prostrate 6-12 inch carpet that cascades over boulders and retaining walls; a bonsai classic. Blue-green summer color takes a slight purple cast in winter.
Photos
- Photo 1: SEWilco, Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA)
- Photo 2: Littleinfo, Wikimedia Commons (PD)
- Photo 3: Ximenex (User:Xemenendura), Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA)
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4 to 9
- Water needs
- low to medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun.
- Soil
- sandy, loam, well drained only
- Soil pH
- 6.0 to 8.0
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Site uses
- Slopes & erosion control
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 1 ft tall and 4 to 6 ft wide
- Planting spacing
- ~6 ft apart (4 ft for a hedge/screen)
- Growth rate
- Slow
What it looks like, and when
- Foliage
- Evergreen
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- low
- Deer
- Not rated
- Colorado native
- No
Also worth knowing
- Fire rating
- Ignitable (CSU): keep 30+ ft from the house, thinned
Common problems on the Front Range
- Spider mites in heat
- Phomopsis and Kabatina tip blight
- Cedar-apple rust alternate host
These are general tendencies for this group of plants on the Front Range, not a diagnosis. Many are stress-driven and preventable with good siting and watering. For a specific plant or an active problem, consult a certified arborist or your local CSU Extension office.
Planting & establishment
Deep-water weekly the first two summers, then taper. Best on a slope or wall where water drains away; it sulks in wet clay.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Japanese garden juniper good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Japanese garden juniper is a well-suited shrub for Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Japanese garden juniper get?
- It matures to about 1 ft tall and 4 to 6 ft wide.
- How far apart do I plant Japanese garden juniper?
- Space Japanese garden juniper about 6 ft apart for a full, natural form, or about 4 ft apart for a faster hedge or screen.
- Is Japanese garden juniper hardy on the Front Range?
- Japanese garden juniper is hardy in USDA 4 to 9. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b to 6a, so it is well within range.
- How much water does Japanese garden juniper need?
- It needs low to medium water once established.
- How fast does Japanese garden juniper grow?
- Japanese garden juniper is a slow-growing shrub. Growth rate depends on water and site conditions on the Front Range.
- Is Japanese garden juniper native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is Japanese garden juniper a good firewise plant near the house?
- Japanese garden juniper is listed by CSU Extension among the more ignitable plants, so keep it 30 or more feet from the house and keep it thinned and well maintained. This is general guidance based on CSU Extension Fact Sheet 6.305 (2025), not a guarantee that any plant won't burn, a well-irrigated, well-maintained plant is the goal. Follow CSU Extension defensible-space guidance and check with your local fire district before planting in the wildland-urban interface.
- Is Japanese garden juniper prone to pests or disease on the Front Range?
- Japanese garden juniper can be affected by spider mites in heat and other issues common to this group on the Front Range. These are general tendencies, not a diagnosis, many are stress-driven and preventable with good siting and watering. For a specific plant or an active problem, consult a certified arborist or CSU Extension.
