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Plants that fill a similar niche:
Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star' Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star'
Ulmus americana Full Form
Vitex agnus-castus Form
Juniperus chinensis 'Holbert' has some common insect problems:
Pests of Conifers

Holbert Chinese Juniper Juniperus chinensis 'Holbert'

Phonetic Spelling
jew-NIP-er-us chi-NEN-sis
Description

Holbert Chinese juniper is a blue needled male cultivar shrub in the Cupressaceae (cypress) family. Holbert is a large tough shrub that thrives in heat and dry soil and does well on banks. It can grow to 12 feet wide and 6 feet tall. The needles maintain a gray to blue color year-round. The branches grow horizontally, giving it a layered appearance.

Plant in full sun in poor, dry and well-drained soils. Use this plant in problem areas, on banks and to add winter interest. It is heat and drought tolerant. Give this plant plenty of room to spread and avoid pruning, as new growth will often not appear on old wood.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.  See potential insect problems of conifers fact sheet to the left.

The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common juniper diseases and insect pests.

VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.

 

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#heat tolerant#blue needles#slopes#needled evergreen#poor soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#full sun#landscape plant sleuths course
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#heat tolerant#blue needles#slopes#needled evergreen#poor soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#full sun#landscape plant sleuths course
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Juniperus
    Species:
    chinensis
    Family:
    Cupressaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Asia
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Horizontal
    Multi-stemmed
    Spreading
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Description:
    This is a male plant so no fruit
  • Flowers:
    Flower Description:
    No flowers
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Type:
    Needles
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Needles are awl-shaped (juvenile) to scale-like (adult)
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Stems are green to coppery in color
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Pool/Hardscape
    Rock Wall
    Slope/Bank
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Accent
    Specimen
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Erosion
    Heat
    Poor Soil
    Urban Conditions