Juniperus chinensis 'Gold Star'
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- jew-NIP-er-us chi-NEN-sis
- Description
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Juniperus chinensis 'Gold Star' is a low-growing evergreen conifer shrub cultivar with light green or blue-green branches that are tipped with bright golden yellow. The ornamental foliage is delicate, fine, scale-like, and needle-like. This multi-stemmed shrub grows 2-3 feet tall and 6-7 feet wide, with a spreading, cascading habit. It is a member of the cypress family (Cupressaceae)
This shrub prefers full sun in medium-moisture, well-drained soils. It is adaptable to a variety of soil types and pH levels. It is deer-resistant and drought-tolerant once established. 'Gold Star' has shown some resistance to root problems, whereas others may suffer from root rot in wet soil or poorly drained soils.
'Gold Star' is popular for its vibrant foliage color year-round and color retention. Consider for use as a groundcover, foundation planting, border, or rock garden.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Monitor for aphids, bagworms, webworms, and scale. May be susceptible to blights and cedar-apple rust.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a fact sheet on common juniper diseases and insect pests.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Juniperus
- Species:
- chinensis
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts birds.
- Play Value:
- Colorful
- Textural
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Resistant to root rot. This plant is particularly resistant to damage by deer and is moderately salt tolerant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 6 ft. 6 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Cascading
- Dense
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- Separate male and female shrubs. The male cones are dark brown. The female cones are whitish-blue to brown.
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Flowers:
- Flower Description:
- Non-flowering
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Prickly
- Soft
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Whorled
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- The foliage is light green to blue-green, scale-like, and needle-like. The branch tips are bright golden yellow. Mature foliage is scale-like, stiff, usually 4-ranked in opposite pairs. The young leaves are awl-like or needle-like and appear in whorls of 3 or opposite.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Asian Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Pollution
- Urban Conditions
- Wet Soil
