Nana Japanese Garden Juniper

Nana Japanese Garden Juniper (Juniperus procumbens 'Nana')

Nana Japanese Garden Juniper, Juniperus procumbens 'Nana', is a low, ground hugging evergreen prized for its dense, carpet like habit and fine, needled foliage that naturally fits into Japanese inspired designs, rock gardens, and detailed front of border plantings. Short, awl shaped needles cover the trailing branches so completely that the plant reads as a soft, textural mat, flowing over stones, slopes, and edges. With its compact size, rich green color, and calm, spreading form, Nana Japanese Garden Juniper brings year round structure and a subtle focal point to sunny, well drained landscapes.

Distinctive Features

Nana Japanese Garden Juniper typically grows 6 to 12 inches tall and 3 to 6 feet wide, forming a low, wide mound that hugs the contours of the ground. Branches radiate outward and slightly upward from the center, creating a domed, cushion like shape rather than a completely flat mat. The foliage is a fresh, medium to deep green through the growing season and can take on muted bronzy tones in colder weather, adding gentle seasonal change without sacrificing coverage. Its combination of very low height, graceful spread, and refined texture makes it an ideal evergreen layer wherever you want the ground plane to feel finished and cohesive.

Growing Conditions

• Light: Prefers full sun for best density and color; light shade is tolerated but can lead to looser growth and thinner coverage.
• Soil: Thrives in well drained soils, including sandy or rocky ground; avoid heavy, waterlogged sites to prevent root problems.
• Water: Water regularly during the first growing season to establish roots, then only during extended dry spells; naturally drought tolerant once established in suitable soil.
• Hardiness: Well suited to typical juniper growing regions when planted in full sun and good drainage.
• Size: Low, spreading habit generally 0.5 to 1 foot tall with a spread of about 3 to 6 feet over time.
• Growth Rate: Slow to moderate grower that gradually knits together into a dense, evergreen mound over several seasons.

Ideal Uses

• Japanese and Zen Gardens: Ideal for tucking around stones, lanterns, and water features where its low, flowing habit reinforces calm, ordered designs.
• Focal Point Groundcover: Use near patios, paths, or specimen boulders where its rich green foliage and mounded form create a subtle focal point at ground level.
• Rock and Gravel Gardens: Natural fit for rock gardens, scree beds, and gravel plantings where it weaves between stones and softens hard edges.
• Slopes and Banks: Effective on small, sunny slopes and berms where you want a low evergreen cover that does not need mowing.
• Front of Border: Plant at the front of mixed borders and foundation beds to provide a neat evergreen edge that frames perennials and flowering shrubs.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: After establishment, water deeply but infrequently, allowing the soil surface to dry slightly between waterings to encourage deep, drought tolerant roots.
• Pruning: Requires very little pruning; lightly trim stray or overhanging shoots in late winter or early spring to maintain a clean outline and keep plants off paths or rocks.
• Fertilizing: In average soils, a light application of a balanced, slow release fertilizer in early spring is usually sufficient if growth appears thin.
• Mulching: Apply a thin layer of mulch around new plantings to suppress weeds and conserve moisture, keeping mulch off the stems; mature mounds often act as their own living mulch.
• Protection: Choose a sunny, well drained site and avoid locations where water collects or snow and ice slide off roofs directly onto plants.

Why Choose Nana Japanese Garden Juniper?

• Low, Mounded Form: Naturally forms a dense, cushion like mound that is easy to place at the front of beds, along paths, and around stone features.
• Year Round Coverage: Evergreen foliage keeps rock gardens, borders, and slopes looking finished in every season.
• Refined Texture: Fine, needled foliage and flowing habit provide a soft, calming texture that pairs well with stone, gravel, and larger shrubs.
• Tough and Adaptable: Handles sun, lean soils, and periods of drought once established, making it reliable in demanding sites.
• Design Versatility: Works in Japanese inspired gardens, rockeries, low borders, and containers wherever a compact, ground hugging evergreen is needed.

With its low, mounded habit, rich green foliage, and rugged, easy care nature, Nana Japanese Garden Juniper is a dependable evergreen choice for adding structure, texture, and a quietly elegant focal point to sunny, well drained landscapes.