Common name: Shimpaku juniper
Latin name: Juniperus chinensis ‘Shimpaku’
Plant size: 6″-12″
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5-9
Cultural needs: Sun or part shade, any well-drained, slightly acid soil
The Shimpaku juniper was first discovered in mountainous Japan a little over a century ago. Due to over collecting for bonsai subjects they have all but disappeared in the wild. A fascinating “secret” history of the people who collected them can be found at the World Bonsai Friendship Federation website.
A compact and wide-growing form of juniper, Shimpaku has arching, upward branches and light-green needles that are pale at the branch tips. Leaves start as needles and mature to soft scales: in fact, this is also known as Japanese scale-leaf juniper. If you see the foliage yellow, it could be from spider mites: spray with insecticidal soap.
Shimpaku juniper takes a long time to mature, but this suits our purposes for little trees falling out of cliff faces. The two trees above were planted at an angle above a water feature from 2″ pots, six years ago and allowed to grow for five years before pruning into these cascading specimens. You must remove the wire before it cuts the bark. Allow the trunk to be shown off: the Japanese call this beloved ornamental evergreen the “smoke of the volcano” because of the swirling pattern the flaking bark creates. If you want blue Shimpaku, order Juniperus chinensis ‘Blaauw.’
