Shore Juniper

Plant type: Conifer
USDA Zone: (5) 6 to 9

A beautiful plant for dry areas, shore juniper is a low-growing, outward-spreading needled evergreen. The needle color is usually some form of bluish green, turning greenish or bronzy green in winter. Mature height is about one foot or slightly more, spreading up to 9 feet in diameter. Especially well adapted to dry, sandy areas, especially in coastal areas; doesn't tolerate wet soils or poor drainage. Use as a low-growing groundcover where excess moisture isn't a problem. Also especially nice growing above retaining walls where its trailing foliage can hang over.

Selected cultivars:

• 'Blue Pacific'. A very hardy, densely needled, trailing form with much better blue color than the species.
• 'Emerald Sea'. Introduced by the U.S. National Arboretum, this cultivar has the bluish-green coloration of the species and grows a little taller, possibly even up to 2 feet.
• 'Silver Mist'. Silvery blue-green needles in summer, turning slightly purplish in winter.