Juniperus Squamata Blue Star #1-Deer Resistant

Is your garden drowning in a sea of basic green? Do you have a sunny spot that looks a little boring, but you don't want to plant something that requires weekly watering and pruning?

Meet the ‘Blue Star’ Juniper. This isn't your average, flat groundcover. It’s a personality plant. We love it because, up close, the needles are arranged in perfect little star shapes (hence the name). From a distance, it looks like a sparkling, steel-blue mound. It brings a cool, icy tone to the landscape that is incredibly hard to find in other plants. It’s like a natural sculpture that sits there looking good 365 days a year.

We have to be honest with you here: This plant loves our sun, but it hates our soggy clay. In the Piedmont, ‘Blue Star’ thrives best when you treat it like a rock star -- literally. It loves rock gardens, slopes, or raised beds where the water drains away quickly. If you stick it in a low, wet spot in Stokes County clay, it will struggle. But if you plant it "high and dry," it handles our winters and summers with zero complaints.

Why We Recommend It:

• True Silver-Blue Color: Most "blue" plants are actually just a dusty green. This juniper is the real deal. It provides a stunning contrast against red brick, dark mulch, or yellow-leafed plants (like Gold Mop Cypress).

• Zero Pruning Required: If you own a pair of hedge trimmers, you can leave them in the garage. ‘Blue Star’ is a slow grower that naturally forms a dense, irregular mound. It never gets tall enough to block a view, and it never gets wild enough to need a haircut.

• Tough as Nails: Once it’s established in well-drained soil, it is incredibly drought-tolerant. It’s also resistant to deer and rabbits. It’s the kind of plant you put in the front of the border and admire, rather than work on.

Best Used For:

• Rock gardens (its absolute favorite spot).

• Container gardening (looks great in a pot on the patio).

• The front of a sunny border.

• accents on a slope or bank.

The Specs:

• Growth Rate: Slow (it takes its time).

• Mature Size: Compact; 1–3 ft tall x 1–3 ft wide (after many years).

• Sun/Soil: Full Sun is a must. Soil must be well-drained (add grit, gravel, or Pine Bark Conditioner if planting in clay).

Check out the full technical details on the NC State Extension Plant Toolbox, or swing by Mitchell’s Nursery.