Parson's Juniper is a dense low growing evergreen shrub in the cypress family native to Asia. It grows 2-3 feet tall and spreads 4-10 feet wide. The blue-green to gray-green foliage has a soft texture and the shrub has an upright branching pattern. It is heat, salt and drought tolerant and easy to grow. Its preference is for well-drained moist to dry soils in full sun but it will tolerate some shade. Use as a ground cover, on banks to prevent erosion, foundation plant or filler between shrubs. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: See the "Pests of Conifers" fact sheet to the left. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common juniper diseases and insect pests. More information on Juniperus chinensis .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheJuniperus chinensis 'Old Gold'Juniperus chinensis 'Sea Green'Juniperus horizontalis 'Wiltonii'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Ground Cover; Shrub
USDA zones
4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Needled Evergreen
Leaf color
Blue; Gray/Silver; Green
Leaf type
Needles
Leaf value
Long-lasting
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Scale-like blue-green or gray-green leaves
Flower detail
No flowers, but cones are large and brown and fall apart upon maturity. Female cones are blue fleshy "berry" looking.
Fruit detail
No true fruits, but female cones are blue, fleshy "berry" looking and edible, often used as a seasoning.