Singleseed Juniper

Flaky juniper is the high-elevation Asian species that contributes some of the bluest and most distinctively textured cultivars to the ornamental juniper palette. The species itself is variable, native to the mountains of China, Afghanistan, and the Himalayas at elevations up to fifteen thousand feet, but the garden forms are compact, dense, and often intensely silver-blue. 'Blue Star' is the cultivar that matters: a tight, steel-blue mound growing just two to three feet tall, one of the most striking foliage plants in the dwarf conifer category.

In Western Washington, 'Blue Star' performs well in full sun with well-drained soil. It is slow-growing and compact enough for rock gardens, containers, and small-scale plantings where a structural blue accent is needed. The foliage is needle-like rather than scale-like, giving it a more prickly, star-shaped texture than other ornamental junipers. Several diseases are tracked, including spider mites in hot, dry conditions. The species itself can be susceptible to juniper blight during wet springs. Sharp drainage and full sun are the standard juniper requirements. For a compact, intensely blue evergreen accent plant, 'Blue Star' is the selection to buy.