Blue Star Juniper

Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’

Blue Star Juniper is a compact, slow-growing evergreen shrub prized for its dense, star-shaped form and striking silvery-blue foliage. Its short, needle-like leaves have a steel-blue color that provides year-round texture and contrast in the landscape. This dwarf conifer maintains a naturally rounded, mounding habit and requires little pruning.

Best suited to sunny locations with excellent drainage, Blue Star Juniper is a beautiful choice for rock gardens, borders, foundation plantings, and containers. It tolerates dry conditions once established but can struggle in hot, humid climates with poorly drained soil, making proper site selection especially important in the Southeast.

Common Names: Blue Star Juniper, Blue Star Singleseed Juniper, Blue Star Flaky Juniper
Botanical Name: Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’
USDA Hardiness Zones: 4–8
Sunlight: Full sun
Water Requirements: Low; water regularly until established, then during prolonged dry periods
Growth Rate: Slow
Mature Size: 1–3 ft tall × 1–4 ft wide
Bloom Time: Non-flowering; may produce blue, berry-like seed cones
Foliage Type: Evergreen
Foliage Color: Silvery blue to blue-gray
Maintenance: Low; naturally compact and generally requires little to no pruning
Soil Preference: Well-drained soil; tolerates sandy, rocky, and relatively dry soils
Landscape Uses: Rock gardens, borders, foundation plantings, containers, mass plantings, and specimen plantings
Deer Resistance: High
Special Features: Distinctive blue foliage, compact mounding habit, drought tolerant once established, year-round color