Shimpaku Chinese Juniper – Live Starter Plant for Bonsai or Garden

Create a beautiful bonsai project or add an elegant evergreen accent to your landscape with Shimpaku Chinese Juniper (Juniperus chinensis 'Shimpaku'), also known as Miyama-byakushin.

Originally found in the mountains of Japan, Shimpaku is prized for its slow growth, flexible branches, soft green foliage, and distinctive peeling bark. Its naturally compact form makes it especially popular among bonsai enthusiasts.

🌿 Attractive Evergreen Foliage and Bark

Shimpaku is a dwarf, vase-shaped evergreen juniper featuring:

• Soft, bright-green needle-like foliage

• Attractive reddish-brown bark with a shaggy, peeling texture

• Naturally compact, slow-growing form

• Flexible branches that are useful for bonsai shaping

Its combination of foliage and textured bark gives this juniper character throughout the year.

🌳 Growth and Plant Details

• Botanical name: Juniperus chinensis 'Shimpaku'

• Common names: Shimpaku Juniper, Chinese Juniper, Miyama-byakushin

• Plant type: Dwarf evergreen conifer

• Growth habit: Slow-growing, vase-shaped

• Approximate 10-year size: 3 feet tall with a 5-foot spread

• USDA hardiness zones: 3–9

• Sun exposure: Full sun

• Soil: Well-drained, slightly moist soil

• Soil adaptability: Tolerates acidic, alkaline, clay, and rocky soils

🪴 Excellent Bonsai Starter Material

Shimpaku is one of the most popular junipers used for bonsai. Its flexible branches allow enthusiasts to shape and style the plant into beautiful miniature trees.

It is also an attractive choice for:

• Bonsai starter projects

• Japanese and Asian-inspired gardens

• Rock gardens

• Evergreen specimen planting

• Compact landscape designs

☀️ Growing and Care Tips

Shimpaku prefers a sunny location and soil that drains well while retaining some moisture.

• Provide full sun for healthy growth.

• Use a well-draining soil mix.

• Keep soil slightly moist without allowing it to remain waterlogged.

• Avoid overwatering and poorly drained planting locations.

This juniper is drought tolerant once established and deer tolerant, according to the grower. It also tolerates air pollution and salt exposure.

📦 Shipping and Plant Information

• Sold as a live starter plug.

• Each plant is inspected for quality before shipment.

• Free shipping is available to most locations.

Shipping restrictions: Additional freight surcharges may apply to Alaska, Hawaii, APO addresses, U.S. territories, and remote delivery areas.

Please unpack your plant promptly after delivery and allow it to acclimate to its new environment.

If your plant arrives damaged, please contact us promptly with photos of the package and plant so we can help.

Grown by Scenic Hill Farm, a licensed Oregon nursery.

Please note: Starter plugs are young plants, not finished bonsai specimens. The 10-year dimensions describe approximate growth under suitable conditions, not the size of the plant you will receive.