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Blue Pacific Juniper – Low-Growing Evergreen Groundcover for Slopes and Borders
A low-maintenance evergreen with spreading coverage.
The Blue Pacific Juniper (Juniperus conferta ‘Blue Pacific’) is one of the best evergreen groundcover shrubs for adding color, texture, and function to your landscape. Known for its spreading, creeping form and fine-textured blue-green foliage, this juniper offers year-round coverage while requiring very little care.
Perfect for erosion control and coastal plantings.
Growing just 12–18 inches tall with a spread of 6–8 feet, Blue Pacific Juniper is an excellent solution for covering slopes, stabilizing soil, and suppressing weeds. Its dense evergreen mat prevents erosion, making it one of the most reliable groundcovers for challenging areas. Thanks to its salt tolerance, it also thrives in coastal landscapes and seaside gardens, where other shrubs struggle.
Drought-tolerant and tough.
Once established, Blue Pacific Juniper is highly drought-tolerant, making it ideal for xeriscapes, rock gardens, and low-water landscapes. It adapts well to a variety of soils as long as they are well-drained, and it thrives in USDA Zones 6–9. This tough shrub can handle heat, poor soils, and urban conditions while continuing to provide lush evergreen color.
Versatile design element.
Use Blue Pacific Juniper as a groundcover, border planting, or accent in rock gardens. Its soft texture and silvery-blue foliage create a soothing contrast when paired with upright evergreens, ornamental grasses, or flowering perennials. Whether you need a functional groundcover for erosion control or a low-maintenance shrub with year-round beauty, Blue Pacific Juniper is a reliable choice.

Hardiness Zone: | 6-9 |
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Mature Height: | 12 to 18 Inches |
Mature Width: | 6 to 8 Feet |
Classification: | Evergreen ground cover shrub |
Sunlight: | Full sun |
Habit: | Spreading |
Flower Color: | Non flowering |
Foliage: | Dense blue-green foliage |
Soil Condition: | Any well drained soil |
Water Require: | Water well until established |
Uses: | A truly deer proof shrub |
How to Care for Blue Pacific Juniper
Be sure to read our Juniperus conferta Blue Pacific care and planting guide

How do I plant Blue Pacific Juniper shrubs?
Choose a sunny site with well-draining soil. Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and twice as wide. Place the plant so the crown sits level with the soil surface, then backfill halfway, water thoroughly, and finish filling before watering again. For groundcover, space Blue Pacific Junipers 4–6 feet apart to allow their creeping habit to fill in naturally. Finish with a 2–3 inch mulch layer around the base to retain moisture and control weeds, keeping mulch a few inches away from the crown.

How often should I water Blue Pacific Juniper?
During the first year, water deeply 1–2 times per week to establish roots, especially during hot or dry spells. The soil should dry slightly between waterings but not stay soggy. Once established, Blue Pacific Juniper is highly drought-tolerant and requires minimal supplemental watering. In fact, overwatering can harm this shrub, so it’s best reserved for dry, well-drained sites.

When and how should I fertilize Blue Pacific Juniper?
Fertilize in early spring with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer for evergreen shrubs. Apply evenly around the root zone and water well after application. For poor soils, a light midsummer feeding may encourage stronger growth. In most cases, a single spring application is all this hardy groundcover needs.

Does Blue Pacific Juniper need pruning?
Is Blue Pacific Juniper deer-resistant and hardy? Yes, Blue Pacific Juniper is naturally deer-resistant, as its aromatic foliage is unattractive to browsing wildlife. This makes it a reliable choice in deer-heavy areas where other shrubs are vulnerable. It is also cold-hardy in Zones 6–9 and withstands salt spray, drought, and poor soils, making it one of the toughest and most versatile junipers available.