Juniperus squamata ‘Expansa Parsonii’ is a captivating evergreen shrub with a unique and eye-catching appearance. This juniper cultivar is known for its low-growing and spreading habit, forming a dense mound of foliage. You will love having a groundcover with shrub height!
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Juniper Parsoni grows quickly to 2-3 feet tall and about 6 feet wide. The lush foliage is a silvery blue-green that looks great anywhere. Plant this juniper in full to part sun. Any soil will do as long as it drains. Worried about deer? No worries with the Parson’s Juniper; it is deer tolerant. It is also drought and salt spray tolerant as well as pest and disease resistant. You won’t need to baby this tough evergreen!
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
The Parson’s Juniper prefers full sunlight but can survive in partial shade.
Watering and Fertilizing
For the first growing season following planting, you should give your Parson’s Juniper water about once per week. Following establishment, this plant will have fantastic drought tolerance and will not need any supplemental water at all in most cases. The exception to this is during heatwaves and extreme drought, during which time you should give your Parson’s Juniper some water. Feeding a Parson’s Juniper is also a very straightforward task. You can use a balanced fertilizer once per year in early spring. Alternatively, you can bypass fertilization altogether, and your Parson’s Juniper will likely remain healthy.
Planting Instructions
It is incredibly easy to find a suitable growing location for a Parson’s Juniper. This plant prefers full sunlight but can grow in partial shade as well. It also adapts well to soils that range from moist to extremely dry. It’s important to give this plant several feet of space to allow it to expand horizontally. However, you won’t need to worry about it overtaking your garden as it maintains a slow to moderate growth rate throughout its life.
Pruning
Typically, you do not need to prune a Parson’s Juniper. These plants are naturally short and spreading, making them already well-suited to act as a ground cover. The Parson’s Juniper is also a slow-growing plant, which means that you won’t need to prune it often to prevent it from spreading and overtaking other plants in your yard, as is common with other, more vigorous groundcovers. With that said, it is always a good idea to remove dead and damaged stems and foliage as needed.
Pollination
The Parson’s Juniper comes in male and female versions and relies on wind currents to conduct pollen transfer. The male version of this plant has small brown cones that carry and eventually release the pollen. Once the pollen enters the air and reaches the cones of a female plant, the female cones will grow to a berry-like form. While not a true berry, these female cones do have a fleshy texture and carry the plant’s seeds.
Pests and Diseases
Many of the disease problems that you’ll encounter when growing a Parson’s Juniper occurs because your plant has received too much water, either due to excessive rainfall or overwatering. Such scenarios may lead to fungal infections. Pests that may harm this plant include bagworms, webworms, and scale insects. However, overall, the Parson’s Juniper proves to be more resistant to both pests and disease compared to other junipers. Additionally, this plant is also resistant to deer browsing.
III. Uses and Benefits
This juniper is a great addition to your landscape! It looks great cascading over a wall, container, or rocks. The lush texture and cool tones will elevate any landscape plan! Turn a boring slope you hate to mow into a beautiful, low maintenance landscape feature. The Parson’s Juniper is perfect for eliminating soil erosion. Create a unique low hedge or border that is sure to be admired.
Add some rustic charm to any plant bed with this stunning juniper! Create a rustic meets romance mixed bed by mingling the Parson’s Juniper with Red Drift and Knockout Roses. Add a Blue Rug Juniper for balance and a low profile. You will love what you create and enjoy it for a lifetime.