3 named cultivars

groundcover

Shore Juniper

Juniperus conferta

Same species

3 named cultivars

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Groundcover

Height

15 inches

Width

84 inches

Light

Full Sun

Zones

6, 7, 8, 9

Water

Low

Humidity

Moderate

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Japan and Sakhalin Island

Toxicity

Non-toxic

The Story

Plant Bio

Juniperus conferta, shore juniper, is a low prostrate evergreen shrub native to Japan and Sakhalin Island, reaching about a foot tall and spreading six to eight feet. Blue-green awl-shaped needles are sharply pointed and arranged in threes, densely covering trailing stems, and small berry-like cones ripen from green to bluish-black. It is one of the best junipers for coastal planting, tolerating salt spray and sandy soil that defeat most groundcovers, and its prostrate habit makes it useful spilling over walls and banks. The needles are genuinely sharp, so it is better used where people will not brush past it regularly.

Uses & Benefits:

Dense blue-green evergreen carpet that spills naturally over walls and slopes.

Tolerates salt spray, sand and drought, making it one of the best coastal groundcovers.

Berry-like cones feed songbirds; dense cover shelters small wildlife.

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in spring in sandy, sharply drained soil.
Choose full sun; it thins badly in shade.
Space four to six feet apart for groundcover.
Water to establish, then rarely.
Avoid overhead irrigation, which encourages tip blight.
Prune only to remove dead growth.

Pro Tip

Give it full sun and sharp drainage — shore juniper thins and browns in shade or heavy soil, and neither is recoverable by feeding.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Plant in full sun and sandy soil ☀️
Use it on banks and over walls 🪨
Water at the base, not overhead 💧
Site it away from paths; needles are sharp ⚠️

Don't

Plant in shade or heavy wet soil ❌
Irrigate overhead ❌
Shear it into a formal shape ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Monitor
Prune

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Coastal groundcoverBank and slope stabilisationSpilling over walls and raised beds

Companion Plants

Beach Rose Bayberry Little Bluestem Muhly Grass Bearberry

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Shore Juniper questions

What zones can Shore Juniper grow in?

Shore Juniper is hardy in USDA Zones 6–9. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Shore Juniper deer resistant?

Yes — Shore Juniper is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Shore Juniper bloom?

Shore Juniper typically blooms in spring through mid-summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Shore Juniper need full sun?

Shore Juniper does best in full sun (6+ hours).

Is Shore Juniper drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Shore Juniper handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.