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Chinese Juniper

Juniperus chinensis (jew-NIP-er-us chy-NEN-sis)

Family: Cupressaceae Unknown Understory (15-40 ft)

'Robusta Green' is a cultivar of Juniperus chinensis (Chinese Juniper) and is a female evergreen conifer that grows with an erect, irregular habit. It is a shrub or small tree that grows up to 15 feet high and 5 to 7 feet wide. It is a slow growing plant adaptable to most soils from acidic to alkaline (pH5.0 to 8.0) if kept moderately moist but well-drained. Established plants can tolerate slight drought and rocky soil. Junipers also transplants easily. 'Robusta Green' prefers full sun and well-drained soil and tolerates urban conditions, drought, and salt. 'Robusta Green' is good as a specimen plant or Bonsai and has a slow to medium growth rate. The blue green foliage is attractive throughout the year and a heavy crop of berry-like cones is often produced. The genus name comes from the Latin name for the juniper. The species name means "of China". Quick ID Hints: Has brilliant green scale leaves in tufts Produces female cones that are berry-like, tiny, globose, glaucous, and abundant Plant is an upright evergreen shrub or small tree Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: Junipers, in general, are susceptible to tip and needle blights, rust and related rust diseases. Root rot may occur, particularly in wet, poorly drained soils. Insect pests include aphids, bagworms, webworms and scale. 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 .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 46 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 2 - Understory (15-40 ft) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

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 niche Juniperus chinensis Juniperus horizontalis 'Wiltonii' Salvia rosmarinus

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Shrub; Tree
Life cycle
Woody
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)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
6-feet-12 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in. | Width: 5 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
2 - Understory (15-40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Conical; Erect; Irregular
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Needled Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Needles
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf feel
Prickly
Leaf value
Showy
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Plant produces brilliant green scale leaves in tufts. Dark green adult needles flat scale-like; bluish-green juvenile needles.
Flower detail
No flowers, but cones are large and brown and fall apart upon maturity. Female cones are blue fleshy "berry" looking.
Fruit color
Gray/Silver; Green
Fruit value
Showy
Fruit detail
No true fruits, but female cones are blue, fleshy "berry" looking and edible, often used as a seasoning.
Bark color
Light Brown
Bark detail
Ridged and fissured peeling in thin strips
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Wildlife value
resistant to deer and attracts birds
Play value
Colorful
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Lawn
Landscape theme
Asian Garden
Design feature
Accent; Hedge; Specimen
Garden tags
#evergreen shrub #slow growing #evergreen tree #specimen #bonsai #easy to transplant #drought tolerant #full sun tolerant #fantz #salt tolerant #well-drained soil #evergreen #urban conditions tolerant #low maintenance #partial shade tolerant #dry soils tolerant #rocky soils tolerant #deer resistant
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Juniper Webworm; Juniper Scale Insect; Pests of Conifers
Disease problems
Juniper Tip Dwarf Mite
Resistant to
Deer; Drought; Erosion; Pollution; Salt; Urban Conditions

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.