Savin juniper

Savin juniper: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Low, wide shrub about 1 m high and up to 2.5 m wide, with obliquely rising, tiered branches.

Foliage

Evergreen; mostly tiny scales, occasionally needles. Dark green to blue-green, with an acrid smell when crushed.

Fruit

Small blue-black ‘berries’ (fleshy cones) on female plants. They are poisonous.

Scent

The twigs smell acrid and resinous when crushed or pruned.

Roots

Branching and deep; tolerates drought but not wet feet.

Plants: April–May and September–October · Pruning: May and August

Why grow it?

• Green and dense all year: a sturdy ground cover for dry, sunny spots.
• Does well on chalky, poor soil where many other shrubs struggle.
• Extremely hardy and drought-tolerant: very little work.
• Spreads widely, ideal for slopes, rock gardens and over low walls.
• Keeps weeds out as soon as the carpet closes up.

Savin juniper: where does it grow best?

• Full sun; in shade it becomes thin and bare.
• Well-drained soil: sand, loam or clay, neutral to chalky. Dry.
• Tolerates wind, drought and poor soil, but not a waterlogged spot or standing water in winter.
• Allow 2–2.5 m of space per plant. Do not plant it near pear trees (see problems).

Light

Sun

Soil type

Sand, loam or clay

Acidity

Neutral or chalky

Moisture

Dry

Size

1 m tall, 2.5 m wide

Hardiness

Hardy (to -40 °C)

Goes well with

• Lavender: Likes the same sun and dry, chalky soil.
• Stonecrop: A succulent for dry spots with late flowers.
• Thyme: A low, scented ground cover that grows prettily between the branches.
• Blue fescue: Fine, blue-grey foliage that goes with the blue-green carpet.

Savin juniper: when and how to plant it?

Plant in April–May and September–October.

1. Plant in April–May or in September–October, when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged.
2. Wear gloves and long sleeves: the sap and oil can irritate the skin.
3. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root ball; in heavy clay mix in sand or grit for better drainage.
4. Set the plant at the same depth as in its pot; the base of the stem must not end up deeper.
5. Water thoroughly straight away and cover the soil with grit or bark to suppress weeds.

Care

Water

In the first year, once a week in dry weather. After that it looks after itself, except in long dry summers.

Feeding

Usually not necessary. On poor soil a thin layer of compost in spring is enough.

Weeding

Weed regularly in the first few years, until the branches cover the soil.

Removing leaves

In autumn, remove fallen leaves from the carpet, as they hold moisture and can cause rot.

Tidying branches

Now and then cut back branches that hang over the path or the edge.

Tip: Plant it in a dry, sunny spot away from children and animals that might nibble it, and always wear gloves when you work on it.

Savin juniper: when to prune it?

Pruning months: May and August.

When: In May or in August; one light trim a year is enough.

How:

• Cut overly long branches back to a side shoot you want to keep growing.
• Remove dead or damaged branches completely, back to living wood.
• Keep the natural shape: cut out a few branches rather than shearing the whole plant.
• Dispose of the clippings so that children or animals cannot nibble them.

Caution: Wear gloves and long sleeves and wash your hands afterwards. Never cut into bare, brown wood: it does not regrow from there.

Pruning: when and how · Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Layering

Branches that touch the ground often root by themselves. Pin them down; after a year you can sever and replant them.

Semi-ripe cuttings

In September–October: take 10–15 cm cuttings with a heel, in sandy compost in a cold frame. Rooting takes several months.

Savin juniper: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −40 °C.

• Extremely hardy, to about −40 °C: no protection is needed in Belgian winters.
• Shake heavy wet snow off the branches, otherwise they may break or splay apart.
• In a pot: choose a large pot with drainage and put it in a sheltered spot; do not let the compost dry out completely.

Diseases and pests

• Pear rust: Orange, jelly-like swellings on the branches in spring; orange spots on pear leaves. Savin juniper is an important host. Do not plant it near pear trees.
• Root rot: The plant declines and the foliage turns brown in a spot that is too wet. Plant in well-drained soil and do not overwater.
• Twig dieback: Brown, dying shoot tips. Cut affected parts back to healthy wood and dispose of them.
• Spider mites: In hot, dry summers the foliage turns grey-yellow and you see fine webs. Spray the plant with a jet of water.

Through the year

• April: Plant (wearing gloves). Remove dead branches.
• May: Plant. Trim branches that are too long.
• June: Water young plants in dry weather. Weed.
• July: Watch for spider mites in dry weather.
• August: Trim lightly. Remove affected branches.
• September: Plant. Take cuttings.
• October: Plant. Remove fallen leaves from the carpet.
• December: Shake heavy snow off the branches.

Edible and useful

Not edible. All parts of savin are highly poisonous, including the berries and the sap: its oil damages the stomach, gut and kidneys and was once used to bring about abortions, sometimes with fatal results. The blue-black berries look like juniper berries, but never use them in cooking or for gin: common juniper has prickly needles in whorls of three, savin mainly tiny scales that give off a strong, unpleasant smell when crushed. Dangerous to children, dogs, cats and grazing animals: wear gloves, wash your hands and never leave clippings in a field. If any is swallowed, call a poison centre (in Belgium 070 245 245) or your doctor at once.

Did you know?

• Savin juniper is the main host of pear rust, a fungus that also attacks pear trees.
• The name sabina refers to the Sabines, an ancient people of Italy; in Latin the plant was called ‘herba Sabina’.
• The cultivar ‘Tamariscifolia’ is flat and blue-green and widely used as ground cover.