Overview

Juniperus recurva 'Embley Park' is a plant with a bushy, columnar, spreading, matforming habit in the genus Juniperus, part of the Cupressaceae family, with evergreen foliage. Juniperus recurva 'Embley Park' grows best in full sun and partial shade, and tolerates most soils and any pH. Its UK hardiness is rated H7. Suggested uses include specimen plants, rock gardens, ground cover, coastal gardens, cottage gardens and informal gardens.

About

Juniperus recurva 'Embley Park' is an evergreen juniper cultivar with a variable habit ranging from columnar to spreading and mat-forming. Its foliage remains year-round and it tolerates exposed coastal sites as well as sheltered positions. It performs on a wide range of soils provided they are well drained. It suits both south- and west-facing aspects in the UK.

About the genus

Junipers are coniferous trees and shrubs in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae. Depending on the taxonomy, between 50 and 67 species of junipers are widely distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere as far south as tropical Africa, as far north as the Arctic, and parts of Asia and Central America. The highest-known juniper forest occurs at an altitude of 4,900 metres (16,100 ft) in southeastern Tibet and the northern Himalayas, creating one of the highest tree lines on earth.

Wikipedia contributors, "Juniper", CC BY-SA 4.0 — Juniper

In the garden

Juniperus recurva 'Embley Park' is a cultivated form of Juniperus recurva that shows a range of habits from upright to low-spreading, allowing it to be used in different garden roles. As an evergreen conifer it keeps its foliage through the seasons and tolerates both exposed and sheltered sites, making it appropriate for coastal locations as well as inland gardens. Plant in full sun or partial shade on freely draining soil; it will take chalk, clay, loam or sand and tolerates acid, neutral and alkaline pH so long as drainage is good. Choose a south-, west- or east-facing aspect; avoid waterlogged ground. It is rated H7, which in practical terms means it is fully hardy throughout the UK and does not need winter protection. Use 'Embley Park' as a specimen or in groups on a slope, as a ground cover in rock gardens, or to form low mats beneath shrubs in informal and cottage-style planting. It also handles coastal exposure where salt spray is a factor. Allowing plants to spread naturally will emphasise their mat-forming tendency, while selecting the more upright individuals creates narrow, columnar accents in mixed beds or borders.

Growing conditions

Best soil and position for Juniperus

Sunlight

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil type

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Soil moisture

Well-drained

Aspect

South-facing, West-facing, East-facing

Exposure

Exposed, Sheltered

UK hardiness

H7

Plant details

Juniperus recurva 'Embley Park' size, habit and characteristics

Habit

Bushy, Columnar, Spreading, Matforming

Foliage

Evergreen

Suggested uses

Specimen plants, Rock gardens, Ground cover, Coastal gardens, Cottage gardens, Informal gardens

Care notes

Pruning and caring for Juniperus recurva 'Embley Park'

Propagation

Seed, Semi-ripe cuttings

Pest resistance

Aphids, Scale insects, Conifer red spider mite, Caterpillars

Disease resistance

Phytophthora, Canker, Honey fungus

Frequently asked questions

More in the Juniperus genus

• 
  Juniperus sabina 'Musgrave'Savin Juniper
• 
  Juniperus scopulorum 'Blue Arrow'Rocky Mountain juniper 'Blue Arrow'