Species creeping juniper
Red-brown branches, filled with green-yellow leaves.

creeping juniper

Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Chip'

Creeping juniper, known botanically as Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Chip', is an evergreen, low-growing shrub. A popular choice for ground cover, it is noted for its fragrant foliage and its ability to quickly spread, forming an attractive carpet of soft blue-green needles. Small berries may also appear, often in the fall. This adaptable plant can take full sun or full shade, low water, and low to moderate fertility. While frost tolerant, it does best with a minimal number of hard frosts. It is a great choice for a rock garden, slope stabilization, as an edging, or in a container.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Cutting,Layering Propagation,Division,Grafting Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

2

Flowers:

Non-flowering Flowers

Sun:

Full sun

Soil:

Sandy Loamy Clay Rocky

Fruits:

blue Fruits Ready In Fall

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

silver

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Invasive:

Yes

Care Level:

Low

watering

Creeping Juniper should be watered once every 5-7 days, depending on weather and time of year. In the heat of summer, more frequent watering may be necessary. It should be watered deeply so that the soil is soaked and the roots of the plant are moist. Be sure not to overwater as this can cause root rot. After rooting, water and then allow the soil to dry between waterings.

sunlight

Creeping juniper, also known as Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Chip', enjoys full sun conditions, meaning 6-8 hours of direct sunlight a day. This particular species is drought resilient and prefers full sun exposure, in order to enjoy vigorous growth and spread more readily. Too little sunlight and creeping juniper runs the risk of being spindly and weak, with faded foliage color. If you have a shadier area, try another species of juniper, such as Juniperus horizontalis 'Plumosa', as this 1 might do better in a partially shaded area.

pruning

Creeping juniper (Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Chip') is an evergreen shrub that usually requires minimal pruning. Pruning should only be done no more than twice a year and should be light and minimal. Prune lightly in late spring before any new growth has started and lightly again in early fall just before the new growth has set in. This pruning will help keep the shape and size of the shrub in check without impacting its beauty. Generally, only light pruning and removing dead or diseased branches is recommended for a healthy creeping juniper.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Harvest Fruit

The best time to start harvesting the fruits from Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Chip' is in late summer or early fall, typically between August and October.

Starts Flowering

Creeping juniper typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Starts Flowering

Creeping juniper typically starts flowering in late spring, usually in May or June.

Harvest Fruit

The best time to start harvesting the fruits from Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Chip' is in late summer or early fall, typically between August and October.

Hardiness Map