Juniper 'Blue Star'

Sheridan Nurseries Ltd.

$24.99
Title

A sparkling, jewel-toned gem for your garden! 'Blue Star' is a mesmerizing dwarf evergreen that naturally forms a compact, star-like mound. Its dense, awl-shaped needles are a striking steel-blue that glimmers with a silver-white band, creating a frosted, shimmering effect. This low-growing beauty maintains its vibrant, cool-blue hue year-round, offering a sophisticated pop of colour and a unique, architectural texture that invites admiration.

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Plant Details

Mature Size:

2–3' H x 3–4' W

Zone:

4-8

Watering:

Low to Medium

Foliage Type:

Evergreen

Growth Rate:

Extremely Slow

Light:

Full Sun

Plant Profile

Common Names:

Blue Star Juniper, Singleseed Juniper, Flaky Juniper

Scientific Name:

Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star'

Type:

Ornamental Dwarf Evergreen Shrub

Growth Details:

  • Mature Size: Typically 2–3 feet tall and 3–4 feet wide.
  • Growth Habit / Form: Compact, hemispherical, or globe-shaped mound.
  • Growth Rate: Very slow (adding about 2–3 inches per year).
  • Longevity: Expected to live for approximately 30 years under ideal conditions.

Environmental Needs:

  • Exposure: Full sun (6+ hours of direct light).
  • Soil Preferences: Adaptable to various soil types, from sandy to clay loam.
  • Soil Tolerance: Thrives in poor, rocky, or dry soils but requires excellent drainage.
  • Watering: Occasional irrigation during dry spells; once established, it is a "water-wise" marvel.

Special Features:

  • Resistances: Highly resistant to deer, drought, erosion, and urban pollution.
  • Award-Winning: Recipient of the RHS Award of Garden Merit.
  • Uses: Rock gardens, xeriscaping, slope stabilization, and bonsai training.
Care Guide

Ornamental & Landscape Value

Seasonal Interest:

  • Bloom: Non-flowering conifer.
  • Winter Interest: Retains its silver-blue colour year-round, often taking on a purplish or heather-blue tint in extreme cold.
  • Fruit: Produces small, bluish-black, berry-like cones.

Garden Value:

Outstanding for rock gardens, mixed borders, and as a groundcover. Its dwarf size and vibrant colour make it an elegant choice for foundation plantings or as a "thriller" in patio containers.

Wildlife & Human Value:

  • Wildlife: Provides dense, year-round shelter for small songbirds.
  • Human: Low-maintenance, high-impact plant perfect for small urban yards and "industrial-strength" landscaping.

Planting & Care Guide

Planting Considerations:

  • Best Time: Spring or early fall.
  • Spacing: 3–4 feet apart to allow for its spreading growth and ensure proper air circulation.
  • Location Tips: Site in a sunny, open space away from larger, overhanging shrubs; ensure the trunk is level with the ground surface.

Care:

  • Light: Best in full sun to maintain its vivid blue color and dense form.
  • Moisture: Prefers medium moisture but is highly drought-tolerant once established; avoid soggy or waterlogged ground.
  • Maintenance & Fertilization: Extremely low maintenance; naturally stays tidy without pruning. Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring if needed.

Tolerances:

Deer, drought, poor soil, salt, and urban pollution.

Tips For Success:

Apply a 2–3 inch layer of mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds, but keep it away from the crown to prevent rot. Position near windbreaks to protect foliage in very exposed sites.

Fruit Profile