- Full Sun (At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)
- Mature Height 6 - 12 Inches
- Mature Spread 6 - 12 Inches
- Growing Zones 4 - 8
Enjoy year-round color with little care when you plant the versatile Dwarf Japanese Juniper. This evergreen shrub, also known as Juniperus procumbens 'Nana,' has trailing branches that reach out from the center and create a mat of greenery. This shrub can be planted to as a groundcover or trained for an upright habit. Its mature blue-green foliage has a winter purple tint that makes it stand out. This beauty will remain handsome even when left unpruned.
New growth for this Juniper is a bright green, as it matures it turns to a blue green. In the winter it takes on a purple tint. This beauty makes a beautiful groundcover as the spreading branches naturally radiate out. Use this shrub on slopes or uneven ground, and it is excellent for erosion control. The foliage will complement a rock garden or provide some color as a foundation planting. Deer do not favor this plant, so you can count on the greenery to last all year. Dwarf Japanese Juniper grows as a perennial in USDA zones 4 through 8.
This dwarf plant is easy to care for and resistant to pests and disease. Once established this plant is drought tolerant. This one will thrive when used as ground cover in various spaces including rocky slopes. It reaches a height of one foot and has a spreading growing habit and can reach six feet in width. It is a great choice for city gardens, rock gardens around features. It can be trained like a bonsai for small topiary purposes. This evergreen is native to Japan.
Dwarf Japanese Juniper Care
Care for your Dwarf Japanese garden Juniper by planting in full to part sun. It prefers four to six hours of sun per day. This shrub is easy-going and can handle varying Ph levels and poor rocky soil. The soil should drain well though. Let the soil dry out before watering each time. This plant has low to average water needs, so give it about an inch of water weekly for the first year. Once established, this shrub is drought-tolerant.
Trim the plant as needed to maintain the shape. This shrub grows slowly, so heavy pruning is not generally necessary. Prune to keep topiary forms when necessary. Pruning when planted as a ground cover is not necessary. The blue-green needles densely cover the branches and can be prickly, so handle with care. This plant is less aggressive than other varieties of Juniper, so it will take some time to fill in, but it will not require consistent maintenance.
Feed this Juniper using a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in the spring before the new growth appears. New growth for this Juniper is a bright green, as it matures it turns to a blue green.
Dwarf Japanese Juniper Spacing
The Dwarf Japanese garden Juniper should be spaced properly to ensure proper growth, healthy roots and air circulation. This charming Juniper will reach 6 to 12 inches tall, and the reaching branches will spread out 5 to 6 feet. Space plants 4 to 6 feet to create a lush carpet of greenery along an embankment or in a rock garden.
Dwarf Japanese Juniper Information
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 - 8 |
Plant Type: Bushes |
Light Exposure: Full Sun (At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight) |
Mature Height: 6 - 12 Inches |
Mature Spread: 5 - 6 Feet |
Spacing: 5 - 6 Feet |
Habit: Spreading, Trailing |
Flower Color(s): None |
Flower Description: |
Bloom Period: |
Foliage Type: Evergreen |
Foliage Color(s): Green |
Foliage Description: Light Green |
Seasonal Interest: Spring Flowering, Summer Flowering, Fall Flowering, Winter Interest, 4 Season Interest |
Watering: Average |
Resists: Deer, Disease |
Tolerates: Drought, Salt |
Attracts: Birds |
Container Role: |
Uses: Groundcovers, Mass Planting, Wildlife Gardens |
Features: Attracts Pollinators, Foliage Interest |
Brand: |
Common Name: Dwarf Japanese Juniper |
Other Name(s): |
Scientific Name: JUNIPERUS PROCUMBENS `NANA` |
- SKU:
- 1231000054-pc
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on; type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
For more detailed information, please click here.
Plant Addict Guarantee (Included On All Plant Orders)
Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)

Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)

Planter Shipping
Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations
Plant Shipping
Time of Order:
Summer Shipping
- If there is extreme heat we’ll delay shipping.
- We’ll have to review what areas the plants are traveling through along with your location
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an email with tracking information. Depending on the above criteria we’ll ship your plant(s) towards beginning of the following week from your order. We put together this helpful guide of what to do when you receive your plants in the mail.
It is important to know that all of our plants are clearly labeled for which growing zones the plant can survive in. The plants are thoroughly trialed and tested in every growing zone before we state the plant can grow in a zone. Again, our #1 priority is to ship the plants to you healthy and ready to thrive in your location. So we will do everything in our power to do so.