Blue Pacific shore juniper

Sun

Full sun; light shade is tolerated, but growth becomes thinner.

Water

Water regularly during the first growing season, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings. Once established, water during prolonged drought rather than keeping the soil constantly moist.

Soil

Well-drained sandy, gravelly or loamy soil; tolerates poor soil and a range of pH levels. Avoid wet clay and sites that collect winter water.

Height

0.5-1 ft (0.15-0.3 m)

Spread

6-8 ft (1.8-2.4 m)

Foliage

Evergreen. Short, stiff, pointed blue-green needles held in groups of three; prickly to handle and retained year-round.

Growth

Moderate; spreading branches gradually form a broad, dense mat.

Care needed

Low

• Deer resistant
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   0.2 ft (0.06 m)

2. After 1 year

   0.4 ft (0.12 m)

3. After 2 years

   0.6 ft (0.19 m)

4. After 3 years

   0.7 ft (0.22 m)

   full size

About 3 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Mildly toxic: may upset a stomach

Growth rate

Moderate

• Plant with the top of the root ball level with the surrounding soil, and leave room for its mature spread.
• Water deeply through the first growing season; check moisture beneath the foliage before watering again.
• Use a thin layer of gravel or organic mulch between young plants, keeping it away from the main stems.
• Do not routinely fertilize established plants; use a light spring feed only if growth is weak and soil fertility is low.
• Keep fallen leaves and weeds from accumulating within the mat, and avoid overhead irrigation.

Pruning. In spring, remove dead or damaged shoots and shorten stray branches back to a leafy side shoot. Do not cut into bare old wood, which usually will not produce new growth.

Spring

Plant in colder climates once the soil is workable, and water thoroughly.

Spring

Remove winter-damaged shoots and lightly shorten branches that extend beyond their allotted space.

Early summer

Check young plants for dry root balls and inspect shoot tips for browning or dieback.

Summer

Water established plants only during extended dry spells; inspect dusty foliage for spider mites.

Late summer

Take semi-ripe cuttings from healthy shoots if you want more plants.

Autumn

Plant in mild climates while the soil is warm, and remove leaves trapped in the foliage.

• Cover a sunny, well-drained bank with a continuous evergreen mat to reduce exposed soil.
• Let branches trail over a retaining wall or soften the edges of broad steps, away from foot traffic.
• Combine with ornamental grasses and upright conifers for contrasting shapes and year-round structure.
• Use among boulders and gravel in a coastal garden where salt spray limits less tolerant shrubs.

Garden styles it suits: Coastal, Dry gravel garden, Low-maintenance, Japanese, Desert / xeriscape and Winter interest.

Plant it with: Lavender, Blue fescue, Rockrose, Creeping thyme, Mugo pine and Yarrow.

Wildlife: The dense evergreen mat provides shelter for small animals and ground-dwelling invertebrates. Berry-like cones, when present, may be eaten by birds; the inconspicuous, wind-pollinated flowers offer little value to pollinating insects.

• Root rot: yellowing and dying branches can follow prolonged wet conditions. Improve drainage before planting, avoid frequent irrigation and remove badly affected plants.
• Juniper tip blight: shoot tips turn brown and die. Prune affected shoots during dry weather, clean tools between plants and keep irrigation off the foliage.
• Spider mites: foliage becomes finely stippled, dull or bronzed in hot, dry weather. Check for mites by tapping shoots over white paper; rinse foliage or use a labelled horticultural soap if needed.
• Bagworms, especially in parts of North America: hanging cases and chewed foliage indicate feeding. Hand-pick cases before eggs hatch; treat young larvae with a locally approved product if infestation is extensive.

Do not eat the foliage or berry-like cones, or use them as a substitute for culinary juniper. Juniper foliage, cones and oils can cause stomach upset in people, cats and dogs if eaten; concentrated oils pose a greater risk. Toxicity information specific to this cultivar in horses is limited, so keep it out of grazing areas. Prickly foliage and sap may irritate skin.

• Blue Rug creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis 'Wiltonii')

  Also forms a low blue carpet, but its foliage is mostly tiny, overlapping scales rather than the conspicuous, stiff needles of Blue Pacific.

• Blue Star juniper (Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star')

  Has similarly prickly blue foliage but grows as a compact, rounded mound rather than a broad mat with long trailing branches.

The species name conferta means crowded or densely packed, referring to the foliage, while shore juniper describes the species' coastal habitat.

Propagation. Take semi-ripe cuttings in late summer or early autumn and root them in a free-draining medium under humid conditions. Low branches may also root where they touch soil. Seed will not reliably reproduce the cultivar.

Accepted botanical name

Juniperus rigida conferta Juniperus conferta 'Blue Pacific' is an older name for Juniperus rigida conferta.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.