Juniperus Conferta

Shore Juniper / Japanese Shore Juniper

Botanical Name: Juniperus conferta (Shore Juniper)
Family: Cupressaceae
Origin: Coastal Japan & Sakhalin
Plant Type: Evergreen shrub (coniferous groundcover)

Overview

Juniperus conferta is a tough, low, spreading conifer that carpets the ground with dense steel-blue needles—perfect for coastal and Mediterranean SA gardens. It thrives in wind, salt and heat, forming a weed-suppressing, low-maintenance mat. Inconspicuous flowers are followed by decorative blue “berries” (cones) on female plants.

Key Features

• Mature Size: 0.3–0.6 m H × 1.5–2.5 m W
• Growth Rate: 15-30 cm per year under good conditions
• Foliage: Fine, needle-like blue-green/steel-blue leaves; aromatic when crushed; may bronze slightly in winter cold
• Flowers: Inconspicuous; female plants bear bluish berry-like cones
  
• Seasonal Interest: Year-round colour and texture; blue cones add interest in autumn–winter
• Wildlife Value: Berries attract birds; dense cover offers habitat for beneficial insects and lizards
• Tolerance: Drought-tolerant (once established), heat-tolerant, wind-tolerant, coastal-tolerant (frontline); frost hardy/light frost
• Planting Density: Groundcover: 1 plant per 0.8–1 m² (for quick cover use 1 per 0.6–0.8 m²)
• Pet Friendly: Caution — foliage/berries can be mildly toxic if ingested; plant out of reach of pets and children

Where It Works Best

• Sunlight: Full sun (best colour and density) to light part shade
• Soil: Free-draining sands, sandy loams or loams; avoid waterlogged/heavy clay
• Water Needs: Establishment: 2 deep soaks/week for 8–12 weeks. Established: deep soak every 10–14 days in summer; little to none in winter once established
• Maintenance: Minimal—shear lightly after winter to keep edges neat; avoid cutting into old bare wood. Mulch annually; slow-release feed in spring if growth slows
• Lifespan: 20-40 years
• Climate Zones: Ideal for temperate & Mediterranean SA, especially coastal sites
• Soil pH: Acid to neutral to slightly alkaline

Landscape & Design Ideas

• Beachside banks, retaining walls and dune plantings—excellent erosion control and salt resistance
• Mass as a weed-smothering, modern blue-green carpet along paths and driveways
• Spill over rock gardens and raised beds; pairs beautifully with grasses and succulents

Why You Will Love It

Near-zero maintenance performance with a designer look. This shore-tough groundcover shrugs off wind, salt and heat while delivering year-round steel-blue colour and crisp texture—perfect for modern, coastal or water-wise gardens. Plant it once and enjoy decades of tidy, weed-suppressing cover.