Juniper Parsonii, Delivered and Planted in SW Florida

Parsons juniper is a low, spreading evergreen with gray-green foliage, and it is best for sunny, well-drained slopes, berms and borders where you want a tough groundcover with little fuss. It handles drought and some salt air once established. Southwest Florida's humidity and summer rain are its weak point, so drainage and full sun decide whether it thrives.

Light:: Full sun; thins out in shade
Water:: Low once established; needs well-drained soil, and wet feet cause root rot
Salt:: Moderate to high; handles salt spray on coastal and canal lots

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Juniper Parsonii

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Juniper Parsonii sizes we deliver and plant

Every size below is planted by our crew, set at the right depth and watered in. Send the size and how many, and we text back a planted price, usually within the hour during the day.

Plant	Sizes
Juniper Parsonii	3 Gallon

Juniper Parsonii in SW Florida, at a glance

Mature size here: 1 to 2 ft tall, spreading 4 to 6 ft wide
Light: Full sun; thins out in shade
Water: Low once established; needs well-drained soil, and wet feet cause root rot
Salt tolerance: Moderate to high; handles salt spray on coastal and canal lots
Cold tolerance: Very cold hardy; SW Florida cold does not bother it
Growth rate: Slow to moderate
Spacing: 3 to 4 ft on center for a groundcover
Florida native: No, native to Asia
Botanical name: Juniperus davurica 'Parsonii'

Where Juniper Parsonii works in a SW Florida yard

Use Parsons juniper in full sun where grass struggles: raised berms, road-side strips, the front of a sunny bed or a bank that drains fast. Its gray-green texture contrasts well with palms, agave and muhly grass. Space it 3 to 4 ft apart and keep it out of low spots, shade and beds fed by sprinkler overspray.

Sunny slope groundcover
Berms and banks
Low-water mass planting
Coastal full-sun beds

How our crew plants it

We plant juniper on a slight mound so the top of the root ball sits an inch or two above the surrounding grade, which keeps water from collecting around the crown.

Holes are twice as wide as the 3 gallon pot. Space plants 3 to 4 ft apart, water in, and mulch lightly. New plants get extra watering under Lee and Collier rules.

Care after planting

Water new plants regularly for the first couple of months, then let rain do most of the work, since overwatering is the usual way juniper fails here.
Aim sprinkler heads away from the foliage, since constant wetting in humid weather invites fungal tip blight.
Skip heavy fertilizer; a light slow-release feed in spring is plenty, and none from June 1 to September 30 in Lee County, Naples and Marco Island.
Trim only to remove dead tips or to stop it at a walk or curb, since cutting into bare wood does not regrow.

What to watch for

Spider mites and fungal tip blight can show up in humid weather, and root rot follows poor drainage, so site it in sun on well-drained ground.

Juniper Parsonii questions we hear

Does Parsons juniper do well in Southwest Florida?+

It can, if it gets full sun and well-drained soil. Junipers dislike hot, humid, wet weather, so the same plant that thrives on a sunny berm can struggle in a low, shaded or overwatered bed. Site it on high, sunny ground and water it sparingly once established.

How far apart do I plant Parsons juniper?+

Plant Parsons juniper 3 to 4 ft apart, center to center. It spreads 4 to 6 ft wide over time, so the plants knit together in a few years. Wider spacing uses fewer plants but leaves open ground for weeds longer, so mulch the gaps.

Is Parsons juniper salt tolerant for a canal or coastal lot?+

Yes. It has moderate to high salt tolerance, so it is used on coastal and canal lots. Salty soil and standing water are still a problem, so keep it on well-drained ground above the waterline, in full sun.

Updated October 2026