Digging deeperPlant Library

Icee Blue Juniper

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Icee Blue Juniper foliage

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Description:

A spectacular ground-hugging evergreen for use as a color accent groundcover, featuring steely-blue foliage all season long, reasonably compact; extremely adaptable and hardy; ideal for rock gardens and garden detail use too

Ornamental Features

Icee Blue Juniper is a dwarf conifer which is primarily valued in the garden for its broadly spreading habit of growth. It has attractive silvery blue evergreen foliage. The scale-like sprays of foliage are highly ornamental and remain silvery blue throughout the winter.

Landscape Attributes

Icee Blue Juniper is a multi-stemmed evergreen shrub with a ground-hugging habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub. When pruning is necessary, it is recommended to only trim back the new growth of the current season, other than to remove any dieback. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Icee Blue Juniper is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Rock/Alpine Gardens
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Groundcover

Planting & Growing

Icee Blue Juniper will grow to be only 4 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 7 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 30 years.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers dry to average moisture levels with very well-drained soil, and will often die in standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selection of a native North American species.