Blue Star Juniper
Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star'
Blue Star Juniper is a compact, mounding dwarf conifer with dense, silvery-blue, awl-shaped needles, prized as a low-maintenance ground-cover shrub.
- Light
- Full sun
- Water
- Low; well-drained soil
- Difficulty
- Easy
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Overview
Blue Star Juniper (Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star') is a popular dwarf cultivar of the flaky juniper, forming a low, dense, irregular mound of striking silver-blue foliage.
Slow-growing and tidy, it rarely needs pruning and works beautifully in rock gardens, foundation plantings, and containers, holding its color all year.
How to identify it
- Foliage: Short, awl-shaped (needle-like), densely packed, vivid silvery-blue with a star-like arrangement on the shoots.
- Habit: Low, mounded, slow-growing, and compact.
- Size: Typically 1–3 ft tall and 2–4 ft wide.
- Texture: Dense and prickly to the touch.
- Cones: Berry-like, small, dark; sparse on this cultivar.
Care & growing
Blue Star Juniper needs full sun for the best color and good drainage.
- Water: Low; drought tolerant once established and intolerant of soggy soil.
- Soil: Well-drained; tolerates poor, sandy, or rocky ground.
- Temperature: Hardy USDA zones 4–8.
- Feeding: Minimal.
- Propagation: From cuttings; it is a vegetatively propagated cultivar.
Habitat & origin
The parent species, Juniperus squamata, is native to the Himalayas and mountains of central and East Asia. 'Blue Star' itself is a cultivated selection.
It is grown ornamentally worldwide in rock gardens, borders, slopes, and containers for its compact form and year-round blue color.
Frequently asked questions
How big does Blue Star Juniper get?
It stays small and slow-growing, usually 1–3 ft tall and 2–4 ft wide.
Why is its foliage so blue?
The cultivar was selected for its intense silvery-blue, awl-shaped needles, which hold color year-round.
Does it need pruning?
Very little; its naturally compact, mounded habit keeps it tidy without regular shearing.
Will it grow in shade?
It prefers full sun; in shade it grows thinner and loses its vivid blue color.
Blue Star Juniper guides
In-depth guides for identifying, growing, and caring for Blue Star Juniper.
Blue Star Juniper identified by the community
Real specimens identified with Plant Identifier.
