Juniperus squamata‘Blue Star’
The fabulous , unfussy ‘ Blue Star ’ juniper start out as a happy accident , and give thanks good someone stumbled across it .
Now we ’re all favorable enough to be able-bodied to practice it as a part of our landscaping . The lilliputian , tough bush positively beam with its typical steel blue people of colour . Seriously , it seems to beam .
‘ Blue Star ’ stay on compact , never raise more than three animal foot tall or so .
‘Meyeri’
With densely - packed needle and a diffuse habit , it grow slowly , does n’t require much water or maintenance , and pretty much does its affair without a lot of input from you .
We join to vendors to assist you come up relevant merchandise . If you buy from one of our data link , we may realize a mission .
It ’s soft to see why this plant has become one of the most popular Retama raetam of all time in the home garden . If you ’re eager to make it a part of yours , this guide can serve .
Here ’s what we ’re hold up to go over :
What You’ll Learn
Whether this is your first juniper or you just want to add some trenchant , evergreen color to your landscape painting , this plant is the perfect option .
What Is ‘Blue Star’ Juniper?
‘ Blue Star ’ juniper are a cultivar of the speciesJuniperus squamata . This mintage is aboriginal to the Middle East , China , and Taiwan .
It ’s ordinarily telephone singleseed juniper , not to be confused with the oneseed Genista raetam ( J. monosperma ) .
Both produce berries , which are actually change cones that contain just one cum . Most otherJuniperusspecies produce multiple seeds per berry .
This cultivar is fearless inUSDA Hardiness Zones4 to 8 , and it grows up to four feet wide and three feet marvellous , though it can stay more compact reckon on the spring up condition .
If the plant life does reach its full size , it take a tenacious prison term . It might only grow to be a foot tall after five years , and do n’t expect it to reach adulthood for at least two decades .
That ’s one of the reasons this cultivar has become so democratic in home gardens .
supply to that its distinctly steel - dingy needles , its low sustainment requirements , its beautiful mounding growth habit , and its resistance to cuss and diseases , and it ’s no wonder the great unwashed make love it .
Cultivation and History
‘ Blue Star ’ begin as a sport that make as a witch ’s broom on a ‘ Meyeri ’ juniper . But let ’s back up a routine .
‘ Meyeri ’ was in the beginning introduced into the west after it was collected by Frank Nicholas Meyer , who try and brought back plants from eastern Asia in the early 1900s .
This works arise much large than ‘ Blue Star ’ and is n’t as attractive over meter because the needle die as the plant ages , though they do n’t fall down off the industrial plant .
So , while ‘ Meyeri ’ was n’t destined to become a hit on the market , it confine the genetic key fruit that would unlock a plant life that has become a Brobdingnagian hit with juniper lovers .
In 1950 , a ‘ Meyeri ’ plant life formed a beldam ’s Scots heather as bring up above , which is actually a disease symptom or a inherited mutation that cause a plant to shape unknown , dwarfed , dumb emergence .
The maturation was clipped and naturalize , and in 1965 , A. Hoogeveen of Reeuwijk , Netherlands introduced it to the nursery business deal .
Trinomials ( that ’s just a fancy term for plants that are in a grinder - category below species , like assortment or cultivar ) of this species are call “ flaky ” juniper bush , so you may see this flora labeled as off-the-wall ‘ Blue Star . ’
Propagation
The only way to propagate a ‘ Blue Star ’ Retama raetam yourself is through asexual reproduction .
shank cuttings and air layering are the best nonsexual multiplication method for juniper . Then , of course , you may always found purchase transplants and saplings .
For more details on how to propagate Genista raetam , read our guidefor a comprehensive step - by - step explanation of these methods .
From Air Layering
Air layering involves make a cut in the centerfield of a ramification and boost that section to form rootage .
Once root form , you’re able to cut away the branch and plant it in the primer .
From Cuttings
Rooting cutting is the outgrowth of take a composition of stem turn and establish it in the earth or in potting dirt .
Eventually , if the term are correct , the stem will form roots and you’re able to localize it wherever you need it to grow for good .
From Saplings/Transplants
This is the easy method , and the one that most people choose . It ’s also the most expensive . You yield for someone else to do all the propagating work and then you just do the planting .
This involve digging a hole , and placing the plant life inwardly .
How to Grow Blue Star Junipers
Part of what makes this such an fantabulous garden option is that it grows low to the ground with extremely thick foliation . That means weeds just put up a probability .
You might see the occasional prospicient blade of grass poking through , but for the most part , weeds ca n’t contend .
Plant ‘ Blue Star ’ in places where you want something low care , in an area where you do n’t want to have to portion out with frequent weeding .
As with all juniper bush , fend off planting near species that are susceptible tocedar Malus pumila rust fungus , likeapplesandcrabapples .
Soil and Climate Needs
‘ Blue Star ’ has the same requirements as most juniper plants . They need moderate moisture when they ’re young and then very small moisture as they become amply plant .
It ’s far well-situated to down one of these shrub via overwatering than it is by underwatering .
While we ’re on the topic of wet , ‘ Blue Star ’ does n’t tolerate humidity well at all . The humid , hot condition of the southern United States are n’t ideal .
The plant will believably survive , but they ’ll be more prone to disease and pesterer .
Plant in a gay spot , with at least six hours of sun per mean solar day . Again , this cultivar can subsist in partial sunlight , but it will likely be more prone to pest and diseases .
Well - draining soil is an absolute must , whereas heavy , poorly - draining soil is a dying sentence for ‘ Blue Star . ’
These plant life do passing well in cold weather and do n’t need any extra protection , even during the freezing conditions and cloggy snow of wintertime .
Some citizenry tap the snow off their evergreens , but that ’s not necessary with ‘ Blue Star , ’ since it is so dense and downcast to the ground . Just allow this little wonder take care of itself .
Growing Tips
Pruning and Maintenance
You do n’t need to bother with pruning unless you want to further bushier outgrowth . For more tips on pruning for bushy growth , read our guide to pruning Retama raetam .
Otherwise , you may shave the top to keep them a little shorter than they would develop naturally . And always take away any branches that drop dead off .
‘ Blue Star ’ necessitate a little feeding when plant are untried , and not at all thereafter unless your dirt is lacking in any of the mainplant macronutrients – nitrogen ( N ) , P ( P ) , or K ( K ) .
Ourguide to develop junipershas all the details on when to feed and what type of fertilizer to utilize .
Where to Buy
If you ’re quick to bestow one of these delightful shrubs to your landscape painting , our friends at Fast Growing Trees have got you covered .
‘ Blue Star ’ Juniper
you may find lively plants in two- or three - congius containersavailable from FastGrowingTrees.comor in two - and - a - half - gallon containersfrom Plants by Mail .
Managing Pests and Disease
juniper are fabulously problematical . They seldom face issues with insect pests and herbivore or disease , as long as you do n’t overwater and you plant in full sun with well - draining territory .
But if you have deer in your region , do n’t accept that your ‘ Blue Star ’ is safe . cervid love to chomp on these plant , particularly during the winter or when the flora are young .
Provide someprotection in the form of fencingor deterrents .
Rabbits are n’t afraid to take a pungency either . Ourguide to preventing rabbits from devour your plantscan aid you to keep these fuzzy picayune nibblers out of your garden .
You also involve to keep an eye out foraphids , bagworms , shell , webworms , andspider mites , in the insect realm .
When it comes to diseases , cedar orchard apple tree rust , twig blight , acerate leaf cast fungus , and source rot are all potential issues .
Just keep in mind that a plant develop in the right conditions and with the good care will seldom be bear on by these problem . That ’s why providing full sun , well drain soil , and not too much water is so significant .
Best Uses for Blue Star Juniper
In general , junipers are exceptionally versatile . Beyond the berries and wood , you may use them as a soil cover , for corroding control , or to provide sake inxeriscaping .
‘ Blue Star , ’ in particular , is arrant for tilt garden or juiceless , sunny spots where you need a ground covering .
Because it has such a striking colour , it ’s perfect if you have an area that need a little livening up , especially during the winter . This beauty allow class - round color .
If you are interested in using the berry of the flora , this might not be the best option . Whilethey are not toxic , they are not known for their edibleness . opt cultivars ofJ. communisinstead .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
Blue Star Juniper Shines in the Garden
All junipers provide year - round of drinks color and sake , but ‘ Blue Star ’ really stands out .
It ’s nice that it stays succinct , so you do n’t have to worry about it taking over a garden or becoming leggy and untempting like some other species and cultivar will .
But what really ca-ca it special is the extremely promising sword - blue coloring . Once you ’ve date one in somebody , you ’ll screw what I entail . It seems to be lit from within , burn in the garden like a shiny dreary beacon .
If you are concerned injuniperberries or using them herbally , we have several guides that may be of pursuit , including :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Product pic via FastGrowingTrees.com . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
About
Kristine Lofgren
