Juniperus chinensis ‘Angelica Blue’ (Chinese Juniper)

Juniperus chinensis ‘Angelica Blue’ is a visually appealing juniper cultivar, known for its silvery-blue foliage and bushy growth habit. Its adaptability and aesthetic appeal make it a popular choice for gardeners and landscape designers seeking a medium-sized, evergreen shrub with distinctive coloring.

Juniperus chinensis ‘Angelica Blue’: An In-depth Look

Native: ‘Angelica Blue’ is a cultivar of Chinese Juniper (Juniperus chinensis), native to China, Myanmar, Japan, Korea, and the Russian Far East.

Plant Type and Habit: This evergreen conifer displays a low, spreading habit. It is characterized by its dense branching, which contributes to a full, lush appearance. Unlike some junipers that grow upright or columnar, ‘Angelica Blue’ is more horizontal and spreading.

Size: Angelica Blue’ typically reaches a height of 5-6 feet (150-180 cm) and spreads out to 6-10 feet (180-300 cm). Its moderate height, combined with a greater spread, makes it an excellent choice for ground coverage and horizontal accents in landscapes.

Cones: Junipers are dioecious with separate male and female plants. Male plants produce small pollen cones, while pollinated female plants produce small, blue-black berry-like cones, adding winter interest.

Foliage: The foliage is its most striking feature, with its needle-like leaves exhibiting a beautiful silvery-blue hue. This color is maintained throughout the year, providing consistent visual interest in the landscape.

Bark: The bark is gray-brown, developing a slightly rough texture as the plant matures.

Uses: Ideal for ground cover, rock gardens, border edging, or as a foundational planting. Its spreading nature makes it suitable for covering large areas, and its unique color can be used to create striking contrasts in garden designs.

Hardiness: It is hardy in USDA zones 3-9, adaptable to a range of environmental conditions.

Wildlife: Provides limited attraction for wildlife, though birds may feed on the cones.

Toxicity: Junipers are generally not toxic, but the cones should not be ingested in large quantities.

Deer and Rabbit: Relatively resistant to deer and rabbits, which makes it suitable for areas where these animals are a concern.

Drought: Once established, it has a good tolerance for drought conditions, making it a good choice for water-efficient landscapes.

Salt: Exhibits moderate salt tolerance, making it suitable for planting in coastal areas or landscapes where saline soil or salt spray may be present.

Invasiveness: This Juniper is not considered invasive. It grows in a controlled manner, maintaining its narrow form.

Benefits: The primary benefits of ‘Angelica Blue’ include its aesthetic appeal, particularly its unique foliage color, and its adaptability to a range of landscape uses. It’s a low-maintenance plant, requiring minimal care once established. Additionally, its spreading habit makes it effective for erosion control and covering unsightly areas.

Chinese Juniper Growing Tips

Light: Prefers full sun. Can tolerate partial shade, but growth may be less dense.

Soil: Thrives in well-drained soil. Adaptable to a wide range of soil types, including clay, loam, and sandy soils.

Water: Requires moderate watering, especially when young. Established plants are relatively drought-tolerant. Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot.

Fertilizer: Fertilize in early spring with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer. Over-fertilization is unnecessary and can be harmful.

Pruning: Prune to shape in late winter or early spring. Regular heavy pruning is not required due to its natural shape.

Propagation: Propagated through semi-hardwood cuttings in late summer.

Pests and Diseases: Junipers are often prone to twig blight and needle blight. They also act as hosts for cedar-apple rust and similar rust diseases during part of their lifecycle. In wet, poorly drained soils, root rot can be a problem. Bark and main stems may be affected by canker. Additionally, they may occasionally suffer from insect pests like aphids, bagworms, webworms, and scale insects.