Blue rug juniper is adrought-tolerant groundcoverand hardy evergreen with silvery-blue foliage that takes on a purplish tone in winter.
It prefers bright, sunny, well-drained slopes where water runs off quickly.
It craves good soil drainage but tolerates most types of soil, temperatures, and humidity levels.
The Spruce / Autumn Wood
The Spruce / Autumn Wood
Blue Rug Juniper Care
Blue rug juniper is a low-maintenance plant.
These plants can tolerate shade and prefer protection from hot afternoon sun to prevent foliage burns.
However, if in too much shade, the foliage will be sparse rather than lush.
The Spruce / Autumn Wood
Excellent soil drainage is key to this plant’s health.
This shrub is also tolerant of rocky soil and salt from saltwater spray or road salt.
After becoming established, it prefers moderate soil moisture and can tolerate some drought.
The Spruce / Autumn Wood
However, soil that’s too wet can kill the plant.
So, only provide supplemental water to mature plants during extended dry spells or drought.
Temperature and Humidity
These plants can grow in a variety of temperatures and humidity levels.
The Spruce / David Beaulieu
They can tolerate wide fluctuations of day-to-night temperatures, snow, and frost.
They’re best planted in the fall or early spring when temperatures are below 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Planting in cooler weather establishes the root systems before hot and dry weather arrives.
Ron Evans / Getty Images
Moreover, humid or wet weather can cause stem dieback orroot rot.
Fertilizer
Blue rug juniper grows well in average soil and tolerates somewhat poor soil.
Trimming it can prevent the juniper from spreading outside its boundaries.
Light pruning can also encourage robust growth and branching to create more fullness.
Clean out any garden debris or trash lodged in this dense ground cover in the spring.
Trim the juniper in late winter or early spring when the weather is dry.
Propagating Blue Rug Juniper
Propagation from seed is not recommended for this cultivar.
Blue rug juniper seeds produce a plant that is different from the parent plant.
Though difficult and requires patience, propagation from stem cuttings may be possible.
The best time to plant blue rug juniper is in the cooler temperatures of fall or early spring.
To control the issue, insecticides or neem oil should be used.
Blue rug juniper is not bothered by serious disease problems.
Tip and twig blight causes younger needles to turn brown and drop off.
Blue rug juniper is also resistant to deer and air pollution.
Be on the lookout for these issues.
When tips and branches show dieback, it is usually a sign of blight.
This creeping juniper is best draped over retaining walls or slopes to exploit its sprawling stems.
This plant requires full sun to grow lush.
Bare and dull-colored stems may also indicate a pest problem.
Check for pests by holding a piece of plain white paper under a branch.
Scorched Stems
Creeping junipers are susceptible to the salts and acids in pet urine.
If you think the plant is being sprayed with pet urine, rinse the plant with a garden hose.
Blue rug juniper is a native plant to the U.S. and is not invasive.
A blue rug juniper plant will grow 3 to 6 inches tall and 6 to 8 feet wide.
Healthy blue rug juniper stays bluish-green all year round.
Blue rug juniper requires full sun to thrive.
It will not grow well in the shade.
It can tolerate shade in climates with harsh afternoon summer sun.
Juniperus horizontaliz ‘Wiltonii.’
Junipers.University of Georgia Extension.
Juniper Twig Blight.Penn State University Extension.
Juniper Diseases and Insect Pests.Clemson University Extension.
Juniperus Horizontalis Wiltonii.American Conifer Society.
