Juniperus conferta ‘Blue Pacific’
Description:
Struggling to find groundcover for rocky hills, ledges, or slopes? Look no further than this low-growing conifer. Not only does the evergreen Blue Pacific Juniper thrive on rock walls – it makes an attractive pairing with other plants, including ornamental grasses and boxwoods.
Gardeners choose the Blue Pacific Juniper over other groundcover because of its floating, gently-drooping foliage. Its deep, evergreen color turns slightly gray-green in the winter. What’s more, the conifer fills in hard-to-plant spaces quickly, spreading at a moderate rate of six to 12 inches each year. The best part about this Blue Pacific Juniper? It grows well in nearly any conditions. It will thrive in any well-draining soil, and can tolerate full or partial sun. Growing in zones 5 through 9, it can tolerate both heat and cold, as well as polluted or coastal areas.
Planting
Choose a location with full sun (6 to 8 hours of sun per day) and ideally well-drained soil. However, the Blue Pacific Juniper shrub is highly adaptable, drought resistant and easy-to-grow in most soil types.
When it’s time to plant your shrub, start by digging a hole that’s at least twice the width of the root ball. After placing your shrub in its hole, backfill the soil, tamp down, and water to establish the root system.
If you’re container planting, select a pot that’s twice the width of your shrub’s shipped container and ensure it has drainage holes. Use organic soil mix, place your shrub, and put the pot in a sunny location on your porch or patio.
Watering
Water your new Blue Pacific Juniper regularly and deeply during its first growing season to help it establish – weekly, or more often during extreme heat. Once your Blue Pacific Juniper has acclimated to your landscape, you can reduce your watering frequency. If you’re not sure when to water, simply check the soil – if it’s dry down to around 2 inches, it’s time to water.
Fertilizing
You can fertilize your Blue Pacific plant in the late winter or early spring during its first year – a general 10-10-10 fertilizer is the ideal option to use. Once established, you won’t need regular fertilization.
Pruning
Since it has slow growth, you will hardly need to prune your Blue Pacific Juniper. However, you can prune as needed to shape for your landscape or garden setting.
| Growing Information | |
| Mature Height: | 1 ft |
| Mature Width: | 6-7 ft |
| Sunlight: | Full to Partial Shade |
| Bloom Time: | |
| Growth Rate: | Slow |
| Grows Well in Zones: | 5-9 |
| Your Growing Zone: | 6 |
