Blue Star juniper
Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star'
Blue Star juniper (Juniperus squamata 'Blue Star') is a shrub suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 1 to 3 ft tall and 2 to 4 ft wide, slow-growing, needs low to medium water, and prefers full sun to partial shade. Slow steel-blue dwarf mound for rock gardens and front-of-border spots. Holds its color through winter. Skip hot west walls with reflected heat, where mites and dieback set in.
Photos
- Photo 1: (c) agujaceratops, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 2: (c) Cheng-Tao Lin, some rights reserved (CC BY)
- Photo 3: no rights reserved
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4 to 8
- Water needs
- low to medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun; tolerates partial shade.
- Soil
- sandy, loam, well drained only
- Soil pH
- 6.0 to 8.0
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Site uses
- Slopes & erosion control
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 1 to 3 ft tall and 2 to 4 ft wide
- Planting spacing
- ~4 ft apart (3 ft for a hedge/screen)
- Growth rate
- Slow
What it looks like, and when
- Foliage
- Evergreen
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- low
- Deer
- Not rated
- Colorado native
- No
Also worth knowing
- Fire rating
- Ignitable (CSU): keep 30+ ft from the house, thinned
Common problems on the Front Range
- Spider mites in heat
- Phomopsis and Kabatina tip blight
- Cedar-apple rust alternate host
These are general tendencies for this group of plants on the Front Range, not a diagnosis. Many are stress-driven and preventable with good siting and watering. For a specific plant or an active problem, consult a certified arborist or your local CSU Extension office.
Planting & establishment
Water deeply once a week the first two summers, then every 2-3 weeks in dry spells. Needs sharp drainage; avoid spots that stay wet after irrigation.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Blue Star juniper good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Blue Star juniper is a well-suited shrub for Colorado's Front Range.
- How big does Blue Star juniper get?
- It matures to about 1 to 3 ft tall and 2 to 4 ft wide.
- How far apart do I plant Blue Star juniper?
- Space Blue Star juniper about 4 ft apart for a full, natural form, or about 3 ft apart for a faster hedge or screen.
- Is Blue Star juniper hardy on the Front Range?
- Blue Star juniper is hardy in USDA 4 to 8. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b to 6a, so it is well within range.
- How much water does Blue Star juniper need?
- It needs low to medium water once established.
- How fast does Blue Star juniper grow?
- Blue Star juniper is a slow-growing shrub. Growth rate depends on water and site conditions on the Front Range.
- Is Blue Star juniper native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is Blue Star juniper a good firewise plant near the house?
- Blue Star juniper is listed by CSU Extension among the more ignitable plants, so keep it 30 or more feet from the house and keep it thinned and well maintained. This is general guidance based on CSU Extension Fact Sheet 6.305 (2025), not a guarantee that any plant won't burn, a well-irrigated, well-maintained plant is the goal. Follow CSU Extension defensible-space guidance and check with your local fire district before planting in the wildland-urban interface.
- Is Blue Star juniper prone to pests or disease on the Front Range?
- Blue Star juniper can be affected by spider mites in heat and other issues common to this group on the Front Range. These are general tendencies, not a diagnosis, many are stress-driven and preventable with good siting and watering. For a specific plant or an active problem, consult a certified arborist or CSU Extension.
