Juniperus procumbens 'Nana' / dwarf Japanese garden juniper

Obrizok, in a Garden of Conifers (1999): semi-dwarf, very low mounding, can grow up to 10' across, short stiff branches.

Juniperus procumbens 'Nana' is a slow-growing cushion-forming, ground hugging form of Japanese juniper that is very popular in the nursery trade. It grows completely prostrate with mounding, layered branches, holding dense, green foliage. Over time, the plant's center will "mound up" while branches continue to cascade downward.

After 10 years of growth, a mature specimen will measure 12 inches (30 cm) tall and 4.5 feet (1.5 m) wide, an annual growth rate of 4 to 6 inches (10 - 15 cm) mostly outward.

This cultivar originated in Japan long ago. Arthur Hill of D. Hill Nursery, Dundee, Illinois brought back the first plants from Japan. They first listed it in their 1904 nursery catalog as Juniperus japonica 'Nana' a synonymous name. The similar but stronger growing clone 'Bonin Isles' is sometimes wrongly offered as 'Nana' in the trade. It is also confused with a somewhat mysterious plant, Juniperus squamata var. prostrata.