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Plants that fill a similar niche:
Juniperus horizontalis 'Wiltonii' Form
Juniperus procumbens 'Nana' Juniperus procumbens 'Nana'
Juniperus sabina var. davurica 'Expansa'
Juniperus conferta 'Blue Pacific' has some common insect problems:
Pests of Conifers

Blue Pacific Juniper Juniperus conferta 'Blue Pacific'

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Pacific'
Phonetic Spelling
jew-NIP-er-us kon-FER-tah BLEW pah-SIF-ik
Description

'Blue Pacific' is a cultivar of the j. conferta  juniper. It is a low growing, trailing, spreading, needled evergreen shrub that matures to a height of about 2 feet high. 'Blue Pacific' is a dwarf selection of Shore juniper with soft feathery Blue-green foliage with gray berries. After 10 years, a mature specimen will measure 1 to 1.5 feet tall and 6 feet wide with an annual growth rate of 6 to 8 inches, significantly more outward than up. This cultivar was introduced to the nursery trade in 1972 by Monrovia Nursery, inc. California, USA. Note that it is sometimes incorrectly listed under the cultivar name, 'Blue Shore'.

This plant prefers full sun and tolerates drought, shade, sandy soils, and salt. This plant is good in rock gardens, as ground cover, for mass plantings, and for erosion control. It is intolerant of wet soil and has a slow growth rate.  It will grow in a range of soil types provided they are well-drained. ‘Blue Pacific’ is noted for its blue foliage color, its  ground cover form, the denser foliage along the branches and resistance to winter injury.

Quick ID Hints:

  • Plant is a low trailing, evergreen shrub.
  • Has awl-shaped leaves that are crowded, whorled in threes, and are less than an inch long.
  • Upperside of leaves have white glaucous bands and a deep groove.
  • Has yellowish-green stems.
  • Produces female cones that are berry-like, globular with a flat base, and are bluish to bluish-black in color.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems:

This plant has no serious pest or disease problems and is seldom damaged by deer.

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

More information on Juniperus conferta.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Sloped Front Yard
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#drought tolerant#yellow-green#slow growing#salt tolerant#mass planting#erosion control#disease resistant#cpp#easy to transplant#pest resistant#deer resistant#blue-green leaves#globular#groundcover#rock garden#fantz#yellow stems#sandy soils tolerant
 
Juniperus conferta 'Blue Pacific'
Maggie CC BY-NC 2.0
Juniperus conferta 'Pacific Blue'
Short growth habit Ben A. Bergmann CC BY 4.0
Juniperus conferta 'Pacific Blue'
Close-up leaves Ben A. Bergmann CC BY 4.0
Juniperus conferta 'Blue Pacific'
Leaves close-up (Buncombe County, NC) Randy Harter CC BY 4.0
Juniperus conferta 'Blue Pacific'
Leaves (Buncombe County, NC) Randy Harter CC BY 4.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#drought tolerant#yellow-green#slow growing#salt tolerant#mass planting#erosion control#disease resistant#cpp#easy to transplant#pest resistant#deer resistant#blue-green leaves#globular#groundcover#rock garden#fantz#yellow stems#sandy soils tolerant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Juniperus
    Species:
    conferta
    Family:
    Cupressaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Horizontal
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Very Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    6-feet-12 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Black
    Blue
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Produces female cones that are berry-like, globular with flat base, 1/3 to 1/2 of an inch in size, and are bluish to bluish-black in color.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Description:
    Conifers do not have flowers.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Prickly
    Soft
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Needles
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Whorled
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Leaves are awl-shaped, crowded, whorled in threes, and are less than 1 inch long and 1/16 of an inch wide. They are ocean blue-green in color, are soft to slightly prickly to touch, are non-decurrent, and are compact spaces. The upper sides of leaves have white glaucous bands and a deep groove. Grown for the foliage.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Stems are yellowish-green in color. Primary stem lays along the ground with erect lateral branches bearing spreading secondary branches.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Slope/Bank
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Foundation Planting
    Mass Planting
    Attracts:
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Diseases
    Drought
    Insect Pests
    Salt