Juniperus conferta 'Blue Pacific' (Shore Juniper) - A low growing compact prostrate shrub to 4 to 12 inches tall by 6 to 10 feet wide with aromatic soft bluish half inch long needle-like leaves, three to a fascicle, that densely cover the trailing branches. These branches are initially greenish but darken to reddish brown.
This plant can be planted in full sun to part shade in a moderately well drained soil. It is drought and heat tolerant with good salt tolerance, so it also excels in first exposure coastal gardens. It is very hardy - to well below 0 degrees F and listed for use down to USDA Zones 5. This fast-growing juniper is great used as an accent plant in a rock garden setting or as a large-scale groundcover where it is nice paired with rocks and small boulders or as an edge along a walkway.
Juniperus conferta is native to sandy coastal areas of Japan and Sakhalin Island in Russia. This is a selection was reportedly selected because it was dense, low growing with better blue coloration and tolerated colder temperatures – we do not know who made or named this selection, but we first noticed it listed in a 1980 Monrovia Nursery catalog and grew and sold it from 1987 until 2022.
The information about Juniperus conferta 'Blue Pacific' displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |