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 belongs to the Cupressaceae family, which includes popular evergreen trees such as Juniperus virginiana (Eastern Red Cedar), Thuja occidentalis (Northern White Cedar), Cupressus sempervirens (Italian Cypress), Sequoia sempervirens (Coast Redwood), and Cupressus arizonica (Arizona Cypress).

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.