January Shrub of the Month-Blue star juniper
I admit I’ve never been a big juniper fan. Junipers are spikey, get bagworms, and have been over-used in the landscape for decades. (Think parking lot islands and mid-century homes with overgrown landscaping!) So why am I featuring a juniper this month? Because the little blue star juniper (Juniperus squamata ‘Blue star’) has won me over.
Yes, blue stars are spikey, so you can’t pet them like you could a pine. (Yes, I pet plants and hug trees on occasion!) However, the blue star has incredible texture and that dreamy blue color that made me give it a try when I acquired some freebies a few years ago. What I’ve discovered since then is that blue star is well-behaved and won’t try to eat your perennials or foundation plants like other junipers. Since it stays low to the ground, bagworms don’t seem interested in hanging out, unlike larger, upright junipers. Although it prefers full sun, in my garden, it tolerates part-shade conditions, drought, and two rambunctious dogs.
The blue star also goes by the common name of single-seed juniper because of its berry-like seed cone which contains one seed, but I have yet to see any of these in my lifetime. It typically stays under 3′ and acquires a rolling, mounded shape as it spreads. Great for rock gardens, but with that color and texture, it plays well with others and looks right at home in a mixed border. In St. Louis, blue star needs well-drained soil and good air circulation to be happy.
What I love about this plant;
–Great texture in the garden.
-Very slow-growing, low-maintenance shrub-no trimming or shearing required!
-Great blue color year-round.
-Deer tolerant!
-Tolerant of poor soils.
What I’m not crazy about;
-Not soft to the touch.
-No flowers or fun showy cones.
-Can have issues, especially during very wet springs. Cedar-apple rust, spider mites and root rot are concerns.
-Dead inner foliage tends to stay on the stems and can be unsightly. This is easily removed with a brush of the hand-just wear gloves!
Words and photos by Jo Batzer
© Jo Batzer, garden-lou.com, All rights reserved.
