Coastal juniper, or conferta

Synonyms: Juniperus rigida var. conferta (Parl.) Patschke, coastal juniper, shoreline juniper, Juniperus litoralis Maxim.

Coastal juniper (Juniperus conferta Parl.) – a species of the genus Juniperus (Juniperus) of the family Cupressaceae. «Conferta» comes from the Latin "con" meaning "together" and "ferta" (strong). It was first described by the Italian botanist Filippo Parlatore in 1913 in the journal «Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie» 48: 678 (1913). In cultivation since 1915.

In the wild it grows in the western part of Hokkaido, on the shores of Honshu and Kyushu in Japan, and on Sakhalin Island. It is found on coasts and sand dunes, forming dense stands.

It is a coniferous evergreen shrub up to 45 cm in height and up to 3 m in diameter. It grows slowly. Shoots prostrate, spreading, branches ascending to erect. The crown is cushion-shaped, dense. Bark on the shoots reddish-brown, later becoming brownish-gray and peeling.

Leaves needle-like, very densely arranged, especially crowded at the shoot tips, in fascicles of three, thin, 1.2 (2.5) cm long, straight or slightly curved at the base, sharp-pointed, glaucous-green with one bluish-white stomatal band, without a keel, green beneath, glossy, aromatic.

Berry-like cones dark purple to blackish-brown, fleshy, 0.8–1.2 cm in diameter, spherical or ovoid, at maturity covered with a heavy glaucous bloom. Seeds triangular, flattened, ovate, arranged three per cone. Berries do not ripen simultaneously.

Cultivars: 'Blue Lagoon', 'Blue Pacific' ('Blue Shore', Juniperus conferta 'Torulosa', 'Compacta', 'Emerald Sea', 'Emerald Ruffles', 'Horrid Mat', 'Iron Age' ('Irozam'), 'Schlager' (Juniperus communis 'Schlager'), 'Silver Mist', 'Variegata', "Golden Wings".

Hardiness: 4-9 (-29°C)

Location: drought-tolerant, sun-loving, not demanding in soil fertility, resistant to smoke and air pollution. Overwinters under snow cover. Salt-tolerant.

Planting: recommended spacing between plants 0.5 or 1.2–2 m. Planting depth – 70 cm. Drainage if necessary: crushed brick or sand, layer 15–20 cm. Soil mix: topsoil, peat and sand in ratio 1:2:1. Does not like transplanting.

Care: in spring (April–May) apply nitroammophoska 30–40 g/m2. In a dry summer it is recommended to water the plant 2–3 times per season and perform evening spraying once a week. Mulch with peat or sawdust in a layer of 5–8 cm.

Pruning: tolerates severe pruning and clipping well, retains its shape for a long time.

Diseases: rust (Arcerid (50 g per 10 l of water) spray 4 times at 10-day intervals), Schütte, Biatorella and Nectria cankers, alternaria, pear rust fungus.

Pests: aphids (Fitoverm (2 g per 1 l of water) spray twice at 10–14 day intervals), leaf-mining moth (Decis (2.5 g per 10 l) spray twice at 10–14 day intervals), spider mite (Karate (50 g per 10 l)), scale insects (Karbofos (70 g per 10 l of water)), galls, sawfly, shoot moth, pine looper.

Propagation: propagated by seeds and cuttings. About 65% of winter cuttings root without treatment. Easily propagated by summer and winter cuttings and by layering. Seeds require stratification.

Uses: Little known in cultivation. A very attractive plant for rock gardens and small gardens. Decorative with its prickly light-green crown that forms a dense carpet. Female plants are especially decorative with their multicolored berries. Can be grown in the bonsai style.