Star-like shoot tips
Short branches radiate into dense, irregular points that explain both the name and the lively outline.
Juniperus 'blue star' 17cm
Normal price
€13,50
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Juniperus ‘blue star’
Small, rounded and always elegant 🌿
- Compact star-like crown
- Intense silver-blue
- Very slow growth
- Full sun
Juniperus ‘blue star’ resembles a small silver-blue sculpture that becomes richer as it matures. Very short shoots open into irregular star-like tips, building a compact rounded mound with a crisp outline and remarkable texture. Its cool colour lifts green planting and provides permanent presence without the scale or severity of a large conifer, making it especially valuable where every plant must earn its place.
It looks complete on its own in a handsome pot or repeated among stone, gravel and low perennials. Slow, naturally compact growth keeps the planting in scale, while slight asymmetry makes it feel alive rather than mechanically clipped.
Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star’ holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit for dependable garden performance in suitable conditions.
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 scale suited to small gardens and pots.
In the garden & on the balcony Placement & plant combinations Set the mound in open sun and mineral soil, leaving breathing room around its radial tips.
A small blue focal point
Use in full sun at the front of a border, among gravel and stone, or alone in an outdoor pot where its complete outline remains visible.
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
- Sedum ‘Angelina’ — warm trailing tips brighten the base
Care at a glance
Light
Juniperus ‘blue star’ performs best in open full sun; this exposure also keeps its compact star-like mound clearly defined.
Watering
Water Juniperus ‘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 ‘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 ‘blue star’, use a mineral, freely draining mix that does not collapse around the fine roots. Mineral structure should remain open even after repeated winter wetting.
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
The crown gradually reaches about 60–80cm high and 80–100cm wide without becoming a perfect sphere.
Mature habit & dimensions
Long-term mature habitHeight 60–80cmSpread 80–100cmCompact irregular star-like mound
A compact, irregular mound forms from short radial shoots whose silver-blue tips gather into the cultivar’s characteristic star-like tufts.
Form through time
Two realistic development statesEvergreen structureThe silver-blue tone may become slightly duller or steelier in winter.
Young establishmentThe young plant is tight and low, with short shoots pointing in several directions.
Established architectureThe crown gradually reaches about 60–80cm high and 80–100cm wide without becoming a perfect sphere.
Winter often gives the silver-blue foliage a cooler, steelier cast. The star pattern sharpens gradually as short shoots multiply.
What to expect after planting: The young plant is tight and low, with short shoots pointing in several directions. Repeated side branching closes gaps while preserving an irregular, living outline.
History & origin Cultivar origin A compact shoot found around 1950 at A. Hoogeveen’s nursery in Reeuwijk
In 1950, an unusually dense cluster of short shoots appeared on a Juniperus squamata ‘Meyeri’ at A. Hoogeveen’s nursery in Reeuwijk, the Netherlands. This distinctive growth, known as a witches’ broom, became the starting point for ‘Blue Star’.
The small form retained the silver-blue foliage of ‘Meyeri’, but gathered its needles into short, crowded, star-like shoot tips. It formed a low, compact mound instead of elongated branches.
Propagated separately, it entered the nursery trade in the mid-1960s. A change on one plant had acquired its own name and a separate place in gardens.
Greenleaf for Plant Nerds Science nobody asked for Botanical details for anyone curious about what lies behind the plant’s appearance
Needles in groups of three
In the small radial tufts, the pointed leaves retain the awl-like form of juvenile foliage. They arise in groups of three around the shoot; successive groups alternate, making six rows in total.
Blue is an optical effect
Waxy surfaces and white stomatal bands scatter light above the green chlorophyll.
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.