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Creeping Juniper Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Chip'

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
jew-NIP-er-us hor-ih-zon-TAL-iss BLEW CHIP
Description

‘Blue Chip’ creeping juniper is a low-growing, needled evergreen shrub or groundcover in the cypress family (Cupressaceae). The species is native to the northern part of North America. This cultivar was discovered in Denmark in the early 1990s.

The species is found growing in rocky or sandy soils, from rocky outcrops to streams, making this shrub fairly adaptable to various soil types and pH as long as the soil is well drained. It does best, however, in dry, sandy soil. It is drought and deer-tolerant and fairly salt tolerant. It prefers full sun and tolerates hot weather, moderately poor soils, and many air pollutants found in urban areas. This creeping juniper cultivar is a mounding shrub that tends to grow at a moderate rate in a spreading fashion, reaching 8 to 10 inches tall and 8 to 10 feet wide. Plant 6 to 12 feet apart.

The tips of the silvery blue-green foliage take on a mauve to deep purple tinge in winter, bringing winter interest to the landscape. It produces small, round, blue, berry-like cones.

Use this cultivar as a ground cover on slopes, where it can help control soil erosion, or in rock gardens or retaining walls. It works well along walkways or foundations and as a barrier or border feature. It also grows well in coastal conditions. 

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Like most junipers, ‘Blue Chip’ is subject to infestation by aphids, bagworms, caterpillars, false spider mites, juniper tip mites, spruce spider mites, juniper and other scales, and juniper webworm. It is also susceptible to blights and some fungal diseases. A wet location may cause root rot.

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

VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

More information on Juniperus horizontalis.

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Tags:
#evergreen#drought tolerant#air pollution tolerant#needled evergreen#deer resistant#groundcover#dry soils tolerant#wet soils intolerant
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#drought tolerant#air pollution tolerant#needled evergreen#deer resistant#groundcover#dry soils tolerant#wet soils intolerant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Juniperus
    Species:
    horizontalis
    Family:
    Cupressaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 8 in. - 0 ft. 10 in.
    Width: 8 ft. 0 in. - 10 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Dense
    Horizontal
    Prostrate
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Fine
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    Clay
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Alkaline (>8.0)
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    6-feet-12 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Blue
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Description:
    The dark blue berries that typically mature in two years may not be present on cultivated plants.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Description:
    Conifers do not flower.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Prickly
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Purple/Lavender
    Leaf Type:
    Needles
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Silver-blue-green foliage all year, purplish tips in winter. Grown for its foliage.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Patio
    Slope/Bank
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Cottage Garden
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Fairy Garden
    Rock Garden
    Design Feature:
    Barrier
    Border
    Foundation Planting
    Mass Planting
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Erosion