Plant DetailShow Menu

Blue Rug Creeping Juniper Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Rug'

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
ju-NIP-er-us hor-ih-zon-TAL-iss BLEW RUHG
Description

"Blue Rug' is a cultivar of J. horizontalis. It is the lowest growing and possibly the slowest growing juniper. It has a dense, trailing, creeping form, making it an excellent ground cover and for use in erosion control. The plant has a uniform, centered growth habit with silver-blue evergreen foliage.

'Blue Rug' does best in full sun in a site with good drainage. It tolerates a range of soil types, but prefers a dry, sandy soil with a PH of 5 to 8. The plant requires watering only when the top 2 inches of soil are dry to the touch. Many Juniper varieties require moisture and cannot survive on sunny slopes where run off can leave the soil dry. 'Blue Rug' does not require the level of moisture required by other varieties, making it a great solution for dry, sunny, sloped conditions.

'Blue Rug' will adapt to the cold, snow and frost and is winter hardy down to minus 30 degrees F.  It also performs well in high desert locations where the temperatures fluctuate rapidly. 'Blue Rug' performs nicely as a ground-hugging juniper spilling over rocks, as a perimeter plant, or along a retaining wall where the foliage will provide year-round cover. 

Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: 

No known diseases or insect pests. Spider mites can be an issue. During the summer months, hose the plants down with a firm spray of water.  This will disrupt web-making.

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.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#drought tolerant#winter interest#air pollution tolerant#erosion control#groundcover#poor soils tolerant#winter hardy#rocky soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#shallow soil tolerant
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#drought tolerant#winter interest#air pollution tolerant#erosion control#groundcover#poor soils tolerant#winter hardy#rocky soils tolerant#dry soils tolerant#shallow soil tolerant
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Juniperus
    Species:
    horizontalis
    Family:
    Cupressaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Woody
    Wildlife Value:
    Bird Friendly
    Play Value:
    Buffer
    Defines Paths
    Easy to Grow
    Textural
    Wildlife Cover/Habitat
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
    Width: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Ground Cover
    Shrub
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Creeping
    Dense
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    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:
    Neutral (6.0-8.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    3 feet-6 feet
    NC Region:
    Coastal
    Mountains
    Piedmont
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
  • Flowers:
    Flower Description:
    Conifers do not have flowers.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Blue
    Gray/Silver
    Leaf Feel:
    Soft
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Purple/Lavender
    Leaf Type:
    Needles
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    Soft, plume-like, dense, silver-blue foliage that will turn a purple-bronze in winter.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Patio
    Slope/Bank
    Walkways
    Landscape Theme:
    Drought Tolerant Garden
    Rock Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Foundation Planting
    Small groups
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer
    Drought
    Dry Soil
    Poor Soil
    Urban Conditions