Scandia Juniper

Scandia Juniper Planting & Care

Scandia Juniper is a low-growing, evergreen juniper valued for its blue-green foliage and spreading habit. It works well as a groundcover, on slopes, in rock gardens, or spilling over retaining walls. It also grows well in large containers with excellent drainage.

Planting

• Choose a location with full sun (at least 6 hours daily).
• Plant in well-drained soil. Avoid areas that stay wet.
• Dig a hole 2–3 times wider than the root ball and no deeper than the root ball.
• Set the top of the root ball level with or slightly above the surrounding soil.
• Backfill with the native soil and gently firm it to remove air pockets.
• Apply 2–3 inches of mulch around the plant, keeping mulch a few inches away from the stems.

Watering

• Water thoroughly immediately after planting.
• For the first 2 weeks, water every 2–3 days if there is no rain, soaking the root ball deeply.
• Weeks 3–12: Water about once a week, increasing frequency during hot, dry weather.
• After establishment (about one growing season), water only during extended dry periods.

Ongoing Care

• Fertilize lightly in early spring with a balanced, slow-release shrub fertilizer if needed.
• Prune only to remove dead or damaged branches or to lightly shape. Avoid cutting into old, leafless wood.
• No pollination is needed for ornamental use.
• There is no harvest; this plant is grown for its evergreen foliage and landscape value.
• For containers, use a high-quality, well-draining potting mix and a pot with drainage holes. Water more often than in-ground plants, but allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings.

Scandia Juniper FAQs

1. How big does Scandia Juniper get?

Scandia Juniper is a low-growing evergreen that typically reaches 12–18 inches tall and spreads 8–10 feet wide. Its broad, spreading habit makes it an excellent groundcover for large areas, slopes, and landscape borders.

2. Where should I plant Scandia Juniper?

Scandia Juniper thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. It's ideal for planting on hillsides, banks, rock gardens, retaining walls, and other areas where a durable, low-maintenance groundcover is needed. Its spreading growth also helps reduce soil erosion on slopes.

3. Is Scandia Juniper drought tolerant?

Yes. Once established, Scandia Juniper is highly drought tolerant and requires very little supplemental watering. It performs well in hot, dry locations and is a dependable choice for low-maintenance landscapes.

4. Does Scandia Juniper produce berries?

Yes. Female plants produce small, blue berry-like cones that add seasonal interest and may attract birds. For the best cone production, a male juniper should be growing nearby to provide pollination, though many gardeners grow Scandia Juniper primarily for its attractive evergreen foliage.

5. Can Scandia Juniper be grown in containers?

Scandia Juniper can be grown in large containers when young, where its cascading branches spill gracefully over the edges. However, because it eventually spreads up to 10 feet wide, it performs best when planted in the landscape, where it has plenty of room to create a lush, evergreen groundcover.