Shore Juniper

Scientific Name: Juniperus conferta Parl.

Classification: Plantae/ Tracheobionta / Spermatophyta / Coniferophyta / Pinopsida / / Pinales / Cupressaceae / Juniperus L./ Juniperus conferta Parl.

Shore Juniper
General Information
Usda SymbolJUCO12
GroupGymnosperm
Life CyclePerennial
Growth HabitsShrub
Native LocationsJUCO12

Plant Guide

Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Shore Juniper.

Fact Sheet

Uses

Shore juniper is an ornamental, low growing shrub from Japan that has good salt tolerance. It is especially adapted for use on back dune seashore landscapes. When planted on banks and terraces, the dense vegetative mats provide good soil erosion protection.

Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plant’s current status (e.g. threatened or endangered species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

Description

Shore juniper consists of upright layered stems, growing to one foot tall, that emerge from low growing runner-like stems. Where these stems contact soil adventitious roots will form. Vegetative mats typically form due to this layering process. The evergreen needles have a greenish-blue color, with a waxy coating. The current year’s growth will be terminally located, succulent, and a lighter tone of green. The needles are 1/2 to 1 inch in length and soft. Good color is maintained through winter. Aromatic, round, blue-green fruit are produced annually. These fruits are produced on second year growth, and are about 1/2 inch in diameter. Shore juniper shows no signs of weediness from natural establishment.

Adaptation and Distribution

Distribution

Distribution

Shore juniper will grow well under a wide range of site conditions, from loams to very sandy soils. It performs best under full sunlight, allowing it to perform well under seashore conditions. Sand dune and critical area plantings benefit from partial wind protection and the addition of some top soil in the planting hole. Shore juniper is sometimes girdled by mice where snow covers are of long duration. Thus it may best be used on coastal areas from New Jersey south even though hardy to the north. For a current distribution map, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Website. USDA NRCS National Plant Materials Center Beltsville, MD

Establishment

Due to the poor production of desirable seed, shore juniper is propagated vegetatively, Cuttings of this juniper are harvested during the dormant season, The use of a rooting hormone increases the success establishing cuttings of shore juniper, Prior to field planting, rooted cuttings should be transplanted into containers, When plants have developed adequate root systems, they can be out planted, As with most rooted cuttings special care must be taken not to damage the root system when transplanting, To aid establishment of shore juniper on sandy sites, a gallon of peat moss should be added to each planting hole, A small amount (100 to 300 lbs,/ac,/yr,) of a balanced fertilizer, applied within the plants dripline, will also help this species get established, Use soil moisture sensors to measure the soil moisture of Shore Juniper., Mulching with bark or wood chips will help conserve moisture and suppress weed invasion, Do not use mulches that may attract rodents, On field sites plant 18 to 24 inches apart, If fertility and weed control are adequate full ground cover can be expected within two years, To establish nursery cutting blocks, in-row spacings can range from 2 to 4 feet, with 4 to 8 feet row spacing desired,

Plant Traits

Growth Requirements

Cold Stratification RequiredNo
Hedge ToleranceNone
Hedge ToleranceNone
Frost Free Days, Minimum140
Frost Free Days, Minimum130
Fire ToleranceNone
Fire ToleranceLow
Fertility RequirementMedium
Fertility RequirementMedium
Drought ToleranceMedium
Drought ToleranceMedium
Cold Stratification RequiredYes
Temperature, Minimum (°F)-3
CaCO3 ToleranceMedium
CaCO3 ToleranceLow
Anaerobic ToleranceNone
Anaerobic ToleranceLow
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Medium Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsNo
Adapted to Fine Textured SoilsNo
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsYes
Adapted to Coarse Textured SoilsYes
Moisture UseMedium
Temperature, Minimum (°F)-13
Shade ToleranceIntolerant
Shade ToleranceIntolerant
Salinity ToleranceLow
Salinity ToleranceHigh
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)14
Root Depth, Minimum (inches)14
Precipitation, Minimum36
Precipitation, Minimum30
Precipitation, Maximum60
Precipitation, Maximum55
Planting Density per Acre, Minim1200
Planting Density per Acre, Minim1200
Planting Density per Acre, Maxim4800
Planting Density per Acre, Maxim4800
pH, Minimum5.5
pH, Minimum5.0
pH, Maximum8.0
pH, Maximum7.8
Moisture UseMedium


Morphology/Physiology

Active Growth PeriodSpring and Summer
ToxicityNone
ToxicityNone
Shape and OrientationProstrate
Fire ResistantYes
Foliage TextureMedium
Foliage TextureCoarse
Foliage Porosity WinterDense
Foliage Porosity WinterDense
Foliage Porosity SummerDense
Foliage Porosity SummerDense
Foliage ColorGreen
Foliage ColorGray-Green
Flower ConspicuousNo
Flower ConspicuousNo
Flower ColorWhite
Resprout AbilityYes
Fire ResistantNo
Fall ConspicuousNo
Fall ConspicuousNo
Coppice PotentialNo
Coppice PotentialNo
C:N RatioHigh
C:N RatioHigh
BloatNone
BloatNone
Active Growth PeriodSpring and Summer
Shape and OrientationProstrate
Fruit/Seed ColorGreen
Resprout AbilityYes
Nitrogen FixationNone
Nitrogen FixationNone
Low Growing GrassNo
Low Growing GrassNo
LifespanModerate
LifespanModerate
Leaf RetentionYes
Leaf RetentionYes
Known AllelopathNo
Known AllelopathNo
Height, Mature (feet)1.0
Height, Mature (feet)2.0
Fruit/Seed ColorBlack
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousNo
Fruit/Seed ConspicuousNo
Growth FormThicket Forming
Growth FormThicket Forming
Growth RateModerate
Growth RateRapid
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (fee1
Height at 20 Years, Maximum (fee2


Reproduction

Propagated by SeedNo
Propagated by SeedNo
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SodNo
Propagated by SprigsNo
Propagated by SprigsNo
Propagated by TubersNo
Propagated by TubersNo
Seed per Pound30000
Seed per Pound378000
Fruit/Seed PersistenceYes
Seed Spread RateNone
Seed Spread RateNone
Seedling VigorLow
Seedling VigorLow
Small GrainNo
Small GrainNo
Vegetative Spread RateNone
Vegetative Spread RateNone
Propagated by CuttingsYes
Propagated by CuttingsYes
Bloom PeriodLate Spring
Bloom PeriodMid Spring
Commercial AvailabilityRoutinely Available
Commercial AvailabilityRoutinely Available
Fruit/Seed AbundanceLow
Fruit/Seed AbundanceMedium
Fruit/Seed Period BeginSummer
Fruit/Seed Period EndFall
Propagated by Bare RootYes
Propagated by Bare RootYes
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by BulbNo
Propagated by ContainerYes
Propagated by ContainerYes
Propagated by CormNo
Propagated by CormNo
Fruit/Seed PersistenceYes


Suitability/Use

Palatable Browse AnimalLow
Palatable Graze AnimalLow
Palatable Graze AnimalLow
Palatable HumanNo
Palatable HumanNo
Post ProductNo
Post ProductNo
Protein PotentialLow
Protein PotentialLow
Pulpwood ProductNo
Pulpwood ProductNo
Veneer ProductNo
Veneer ProductNo
Palatable Browse AnimalLow
Nursery Stock ProductYes
Nursery Stock ProductYes
Naval Store ProductNo
Naval Store ProductNo
Lumber ProductNo
Lumber ProductNo
Fodder ProductNo
Fodder ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Christmas Tree ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo
Berry/Nut/Seed ProductNo

Shore Juniper

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