Star-like shoot tips
Short branches radiate into dense, irregular points that explain both the name and the lively outline.
Juniperus 'blue star' 13cm
Normal price
€9,00
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Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’
Small, rounded and always elegant 🌿
- Compact star-like crown
- Intense silver-blue
- Very slow growth
- Full sun
Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’ resembles a small silver-blue sculpture shaped from countless short tufts. Radiating tips overlap into a dense, rounded crown with a crisp outline, intricate texture and a naturally gentle asymmetry. Its cool metallic colour lifts the surrounding greens and gives the composition a calm, sophisticated focal point that draws the eye without ever feeling formal or severe.
Alone in an elegant pot, it has the presence of a collector’s piece; repeated among stone, gravel and low perennials, it creates rhythm and depth. Its richly textured surface pairs beautifully with purple foliage, white flowers and warm-toned stone, making even a restrained planting feel considered and complete.
What makes it special
Short radial shoots gather into silver-blue stars, building a compact mound with an appealingly irregular outline.
A clear silver-blue surface
Waxy foliage catches the light and gives the crown a cool tone from every viewing angle.
Naturally compact
Slow extension and close branching maintain a small, full form without routine shearing.
Why you will love it: it delivers permanent silver-blue colour and genuine conifer architecture in a slow-growing form at a scale suited to small gardens and pots.
In the garden & on the balcony Placement & plant combinations Place the plant in full sun and gritty, freely draining soil, leaving clear space around its radiating tips.
A small blue focal point
Use it in full sun at the front of a border, among gravel and stone, or alone in an outdoor pot where its full outline remains visible. Allow about 70–80cm between it and plants of a similar scale.
Silver-blue against black, lime and amber
Broader leaves and fine grasses make its short radial texture appear even sharper.
- Festuca glauca ‘Elijah Blue’ — repeats the blue in a lighter vertical rhythm
- Heuchera ‘Obsidian’ — near-black broad leaves intensify the silver tone; keep it in a separate, cooler position with more moisture.
- Sedum ‘Angelina’ — warm trailing tips brighten the base
Care at a glance
Light
Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’ performs best in open full sun; this exposure also keeps its compact star-like mound clearly defined.
Watering
Water Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’ thoroughly while it establishes, then let the upper root zone dry modestly before watering again; protect the compact roots from continuous saturation.
Climate & hardiness
Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’ is a hardy evergreen conifer. The compact crown is cold hardy, although a pot needs protection from repeated freeze-thaw saturation.
Safety
This conifer is not edible; gloves help protect sensitive skin when working among its short, sharply pointed silver-blue shoots.
Detailed care Complete care guide Care for a slow-growing silver-blue mound in beds or pots
Position
Place in open full sun, where even light and free air movement can keep the compact star-like mound dense and clearly defined.
Soil & drainage
For Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’, use a gritty, freely draining mix that stays open around the fine roots, even after repeated winter rain.
Watering during establishment
During the first season, water the compact root zone thoroughly whenever the upper soil begins to dry, then let surplus moisture drain away.
Watering once established
Once established, water thoroughly after the upper root zone has begun to dry, allowing excess moisture to drain fully between soakings.
Growing in a container
A frost-resistant pot just wider than the crown suits its slow growth. Generous drainage holes protect the fine roots during wet freeze-thaw weather.
Feeding
A light balanced spring feed is sufficient if growth appears weak; rich feeding can stretch the short shoots and loosen the tight mound.
Pruning
Remove a problem shoot at its point of origin or at a hidden side branch, preserving the irregular star-like surface.
Seasonal care
After winter, tease debris from between the short shoots and remove only genuinely damaged growth.
Development over time From establishment to a mature compact irregular star-like mound The plant establishes slowly; repeated short side shoots then fill the crown and sharpen its characteristic star-like texture.
Small radial cushion
The young plant is tight and low, with short shoots pointing in several directions.
The star fills out
Repeated side branching closes gaps while preserving an irregular, living outline.
Rounded mature mound
By about ten years, the crown is typically around 50cm high and 70cm wide, forming a dense, bun-shaped mound rather than a perfect sphere.
Ten-year habit & dimensions
Approximately 10 yearsApprox. 50cm high at 10 yearsApprox. 70cm wide at 10 yearsDense multi-centred mound
Many short needle-bearing shoots form a dense, irregularly rounded mound.
Form through time
young → establishedEvergreen structureThe silver-blue tone may become slightly duller or steelier in winter.
Young branching
A few short shoots begin to form the low crown.
Dense mound
Many short needle-covered tips fill out the crown.
Increasing branch density gradually forms the low mound.
What to expect after planting: The young plant is tight and low, with short shoots pointing in several directions. As fresh side shoots multiply, the crown fills out while retaining its irregular, living outline.
History & origin Cultivar origin A. Hoogeveen · Reeuwijk · 1950 and 1965
In 1950 an exceptionally compact cluster of shoots, known as a witch’s broom, appeared on Juniperus squamata ‘Meyeri’. A. Hoogeveen of Reeuwijk in the Netherlands isolated and maintained this growth, from which ‘Blue Star’ arose.
The selection retained the silvery-blue foliage but developed short, dense branching instead of the more open habit of ‘Meyeri’. Hoogeveen introduced it to the nursery trade in 1965. Its origin is therefore an unusual shoot system on an existing plant, rather than a recorded cross between two cultivars.
Greenleaf for Plant Nerds Science nobody asked for Botanical details for anyone curious about what lies behind the plant’s appearance.
Needles around short shoots
The pointed needles of Juniperus squamata cluster around short shoots. In ‘Blue Star’, the dense shoot tips create the star-like impression seen from above; they are not individual star-shaped leaves.
Frequently asked questions
What to know about the light, pace, watering and winter colour of ‘Blue Star’.
01Which exposure brings out the strongest silver-blue colour?
Open full sun provides even light around the short radial shoots and keeps the mound compact. Heavy shade weakens both colour and definition.
02Should a mature ‘Blue Star’ form a perfect sphere?
No. Its appeal lies in an irregular rounded mound whose short shoots end in distinct star-like tufts.
03How quickly will the mound fill out?
This is a very slow-growing selection. Root establishment comes first, and the dense silver-blue surface builds gradually over several seasons.
04When does a newly planted specimen need water?
Water thoroughly when the upper root zone has dried modestly. Do not keep the fine roots continually saturated.
05Can it remain in an outdoor container?
Yes, provided the pot is frost resistant, only slightly broader than the crown and generously drained. Prevent water from lingering during repeated freeze-thaw weather.
06Why does the foliage look steelier in winter?
Lower temperatures can cool the silver-blue surface towards a muted steel tone. This normal seasonal response eases with spring growth.
📦 Your plant travels protected
Every order is prepared with care so your plant arrives upright, secure and safe.
Individual protection
Plants in pots with a capacity of 3 litres or more are placed in individual boxes that hold the pot securely and reduce the risk of tipping over.
Sturdy packaging
We use reinforced cardboard designed to protect against impacts and vibration during transport.