Common Name: savin juniper
Type: Needled evergreen
Family: Cupressaceae
Zone: 3 to 7
Height: 0.50 to 1.00 feet
Spread: 5.00 to 6.00 feet
Bloom Time: Non-flowering
Bloom Description: Non-flowering
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Ground Cover
Leaf: Evergreen
Other: Winter Interest
Tolerate: Deer, Drought, Erosion, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil, Air Pollution
Culture
Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerant of a wide variety of soils including clay. Also grows well on limestone soils. Intolerant of wet soils. Tolerant of some drought once established. Also tolerant of many city air pollutants.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Juniperus sabina, commonly known as savin juniper, is a shrubby evergreen conifer that is native to mountain areas of central and southern Europe to the Caucusus. It is usually seen in the wild as a spreading shrub to 4-6' tall and to 5-10' wide. Foliage is dark green with no purplish color in winter. Crushed foliage releases an unpleasant aroma. Brown bark on mature stems peels in strips. Although species plants are rarely sold in commerce (not particularly ornamental), a number of cultivated varieties have become popular ornamental landscape plants. Sabin juniper leaves come in two types: scale-like (adult) and awl/needle-like (juvenile). Cones (pollen and seed-bearing) usually appear on different plants. Male plants produce catkin-like pollen cones. Female plants produce fleshy, berry-like, bluish-black seed cones.
Genus name comes from the Latin name for the juniper.
Specific epithet comes from the name of an ancient people who lived in central Italy, the Sabines.
‘Monard’, commonly sold in commerce under the trade name of MOOR-DENSE, is a dwarf, low-spreading, ground-hugging, evergreen conifer that typically grows as a ground cover to 8-12" tall and to 5-6' wide. It was discovered in 1981 growing with a group of Juniperus sabina 'Broadmoor' plants at Monrovia Nursery in Azusa, California. It was subsequently introduced into commerce in 1987. In comparison to 'Broadmoor', 'Monard' has a more prostrate habit, greener foliage, more symmetrical branching, and denser but softer foliage. Foliage remains attractive throughout the year. U.S. Plant Patent PP6,656 was issued on March 7, 1989.
Problems
Savin junipers are generally susceptible to tip and needle blights. Cedar-apple rust and related rust diseases spend part of their life cycle on junipers. Root rot may occur, particularly in wet, poorly drained soils. Canker may attack bark or main stems. Occasional insect pests include aphids, bagworms, webworms, borers and scale. Watch for spider mites.
'Monard' is noted for having good resistance to juniper blight.
Uses
Group or mass in sunny landscape areas. Foundations. Small garden areas or rock gardens. Hedge. Slopes for erosion control. Japanese gardens.