Best Types Of Juniper Shrubs For Stunning Gardens In 2025

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Best Types Of Juniper Shrubs For Stunning Gardens

Juniper shrubs are versatile, evergreen plants that bring year-round beauty, texture, and structure to gardens and landscapes.

With hundreds of varieties available, they range from low-growing ground covers to tall, upright specimens, making them suitable for any design style.

Whether you're seeking drought-tolerant greenery, erosion control, or decorative accents, there's a juniper to match your needs.

This article will explore the most popular types of juniper shrubs and how to choose the right one for your space.

Best Types Of Juniper Shrubs For Every Landscape

Juniper shrubs come in a wide range of shapes, sizes, and colours, making them a favourite for all kinds of landscapes. From low-growing ground covers to tall privacy screens, there's a juniper variety for every garden style.

1. Blue Rug Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis ‘Wiltonii')

Also known as: Creeping Juniper
Bloom time: Non-flowering (valued for foliage)
Zones: 3–9

Features

Blue Rug Juniper is a hardy, low-growing evergreen prized for its dense, silvery-blue foliage and excellent ground-covering ability.

Spreading horizontally, it forms a lush carpet-like mat, making it ideal for slopes, rock gardens, or erosion control. This juniper remains vibrant year-round, with foliage often taking on a purple tint in winter.

It requires little maintenance and is highly deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, and resilient to poor soils. Its compact form suppresses weeds naturally, making it both functional and attractive in any landscape design.

How To Grow

Plant Blue Rug Juniper in full sun for best colour and growth. It thrives in well-draining soil and tolerates dry, sandy, or rocky conditions.

To give plants space to spread, place them 4–6 feet apart. Once roots are developed, they require little watering; water frequently during the first growing season. Avoid overwatering and fertilize lightly in early spring if needed.

Pruning is rarely necessary, but you can trim to control the spread. This low-maintenance plant is ideal for erosion control, slopes, and creating a no-mow, evergreen ground cover.

2. Sea Green Juniper (Juniperus × pfitzeriana ‘Sea Green')

Also known as: Chinese Juniper
Bloom time: Non-flowering (grown for foliage)
Zones: 4–9

Features

Sea Green Juniper is a compact, arching evergreen shrub known for its rich, minty green foliage and elegant fountain-like shape. Its semi-upright form makes it perfect for borders, foundation plantings, and hedges.

This type reaches a height and width of approximately 4 to 6 feet and retains its colour throughout the year. It’s deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, and thrives in urban conditions.

The foliage is dense, making it an excellent choice for privacy or structural interest in the landscape. It's also tolerant of heat, wind, and poor soils, adding to its versatility.

How To Grow

Plant Sea Green Juniper in full sun for optimal growth and colour. It prefers well-draining soil and adapts to a range of conditions, including clay and sandy types.

During the first season, water frequently to aid in root establishment; as it grows more drought-tolerant, water less often. Avoid overwatering or planting in soggy areas.

Pruning is optional but can help shape or maintain size. If necessary, apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in the spring.

This low-maintenance shrub is ideal for hedges, borders, and accent planting in both residential and commercial landscapes.

3. Old Gold Juniper (Juniperus × pfitzeriana ‘Old Gold')

Also known as: Golden Pfitzer Juniper
Bloom time: Non-flowering (grown for foliage)
Zones: 4–9

Features

Old Gold Juniper is one of the most popular types of juniper shrubs, prized for its vibrant colour and hardy nature. With its thick, spreading shape and usual height of 3–4 feet and width of 4–5 feet, it is an excellent option for mass plantings, foundation plantings, and borders.

Its colour or contrast adds brightness to any landscape year-round. This variety is highly drought-tolerant, low-maintenance, and deer-resistant. It withstands heat, poor soils, and air pollution, making it ideal for both urban and rural settings.

How To Grow

Grow Old Gold Juniper in full sun to enhance its rich golden foliage. It prefers well-drained soil and tolerates a range of conditions, including sandy and clay soils.

For the first year, water frequently to create a robust root system; when it is established, water less often. This hardy shrub requires little to no pruning, though occasional shaping can help maintain a tidy form.

Avoid planting in overly wet areas. It thrives with minimal care and does well in mixed shrub borders, as a low hedge, or as an eye-catching landscape accent.

4. Hollywood Juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘Kaizuka')

Also known as: Kaizuka Juniper
Bloom time: Non-flowering (valued for foliage)
Zones: 4–9

Features

Hollywood Juniper is one of the distinctive types of juniper shrubs valued for its architectural form and versatility in landscaping.

It can grow 15–20 feet tall with a spread of 8–12 feet, making it ideal as a specimen plant, privacy screen, or windbreak. Its distinctive, open, layered growth adds architectural interest to landscapes.

This drought-tolerant, deer-resistant shrub adapts well to various soils and urban conditions, thriving in both formal and naturalistic garden settings.

How To Grow

Plant Hollywood Juniper in full sun with well-drained soil for best growth. Although it can withstand a range of soil types, such as rocky and sandy soils, it stays away from moist environments.

Water regularly during the first year to establish a strong root system, then reduce frequency. Minimal pruning is needed, but light trimming can help maintain shape.

This hardy shrub handles heat, drought, and pollution well. Use it as a striking focal point, hedge, or windbreak in extensive gardens or commercial landscapes for year-round greenery and texture.

5. Blue Star Juniper (Juniperus squamata ‘Blue Star')

Also known as: Blue Star Singleseed Juniper
Bloom time: Non-flowering (grown for foliage)
Zones: 4–8

Features

Blue Star Juniper is a slow-growing, dwarf evergreen shrub admired for its dense, silvery-blue foliage that forms a tidy, rounded mound.

It typically reaches 1–3 feet tall and 3–4 feet wide, making it perfect for rock gardens, borders, and container planting. Its brilliant colour stands out year-round, especially against dark green or flowering plants.

Low-maintenance and deer-resistant, it adds texture and contrast to small spaces. This juniper tolerates drought, heat, and poor soils, thriving with little intervention while providing year-round colour and visual appeal in almost any landscape.

How To Grow

Plant Blue Star Juniper in full sun for the best colour and growth habit. It does not like wet or poorly draining soils and favours slightly acidic, well-drained soils on neutral terrain.

Water regularly during the first growing season, then only during extended dry periods. No pruning is needed unless shaping is desired. Avoid overwatering, as this plant is drought-tolerant once established.

To keep weeds out and moisture in, spread a thin layer of mulch. Ideal for small gardens, edging, and foundation plantings, this shrub grows slowly but rewards with years of stunning blue foliage.

6. Skyrocket Juniper (Juniperus scopulorum ‘Skyrocket')

Also known as: Upright Juniper
Bloom time: Non-flowering (grown for foliage)
Zones: 3–8

Features

Skyrocket Juniper is a striking, narrow, columnar evergreen that grows 15–20 feet tall but only 3–4 feet wide, making it perfect for tight spaces or vertical accents. Its dense, dark green foliage maintains colour year-round and provides excellent privacy screening.

This fast-growing juniper is drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and thrives in poor soils and full sun. Its slim profile adds architectural interest to landscapes, especially in formal gardens or as a windbreak. Low-maintenance and hardy, it’s a popular choice for urban and suburban settings.

How To Grow

Plant Skyrocket Juniper in full sun and well-draining soil for best results. It tolerates poor, sandy, or rocky soils but dislikes wet feet.

Water frequently in the first year to help the roots take hold, then less often as the plant learns to withstand drought. Minimal pruning is required—just trim to maintain shape or remove dead branches.

Fertilize lightly in early spring if desired. This shrub is excellent for narrow spaces, hedges, or screens, providing year-round colour and structure with little care needed.

7. Spartan Juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘Spartan')

Also known as: Spartan Chinese Juniper
Bloom time: Non-flowering (grown for foliage)
Zones: 4–9

Features

Spartan Juniper is a popular upright, narrow evergreen shrub that typically grows 12–15 feet tall and 3–4 feet wide. Spartan Juniper is a widely used type of juniper shrub known for its tall, narrow shape and reliable year-round greenery.

In addition to surviving drought, this hardy shrub can fend off deer and grow in a variety of soil types, including clay and sandy ones.

Its fast growth and compact form make it ideal for formal hedges, borders, and foundation plantings, adding structure and year-round greenery to landscapes.

How To Grow

Spartan Juniper is an excellent option for learning how to cultivate several kinds of juniper shrubs because of its low maintenance requirements and versatility.

Although clay and sandy soils are among the many types of soil it can tolerate, it favours well-drained soil. Water frequently throughout the first growing season to build a robust root system, then less often as the plant learns to withstand drought.

Prune lightly to maintain shape or control size, ideally in late winter or early spring. This low-maintenance shrub thrives in urban and suburban landscapes, perfect for hedges and screens.

8. Calgary Carpet Juniper (Juniperus sabina ‘Calgary Carpet')

Also known as: Creeping Savin Juniper
Bloom time: Non-flowering (valued for foliage)
Zones: 3–7

Features

Calgary Carpet Juniper is a hardy, low-growing evergreen shrub known for its dense, finely textured green foliage and excellent ground-covering ability.

Reaching only 1–2 feet in height and spreading 4–6 feet wide, it forms a soft, mat-like appearance that’s ideal for slopes, rock gardens, and borders.

The foliage remains lush green throughout the year and may develop a slight purplish tint in winter. It’s drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and highly adaptable to harsh climates, making it a reliable choice for erosion control and low-maintenance landscapes.

How To Grow

The best growing conditions for Calgary Carpet Juniper are full sun to partial shade. It thrives in well-drained soils but tolerates poor, rocky, or sandy conditions.

Water regularly during the first year to establish roots, then only during prolonged dry periods. No pruning is necessary, though it can be lightly trimmed to shape.

This juniper requires little maintenance and grows well in exposed or windy sites. Use it for erosion control, between stepping stones, or as a lush, evergreen ground cover.

9. Bar Harbour Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis ‘Bar Harbour')

Also known as: Creeping Juniper
Bloom time: Non-flowering (valued for foliage)
Zones: 3–9

Features

Bar Harbour Juniper is a hardy, low-growing evergreen shrub prized for its fine-textured, blue-green foliage that turns purplish in winter.

It spreads up to 8 feet wide while staying under 1 foot tall, forming a dense mat that’s perfect for ground cover, slopes, and erosion control.

This variety is highly salt-tolerant, making it ideal for coastal areas or roadside plantings. It is deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, and thrives in poor soils.

Its attractive year-round colour and low-maintenance nature make it a favourite for rock gardens and expansive ground coverage.

How To Grow

When learning how to grow different types of juniper shrubs, Bar Harbour Juniper stands out for its low maintenance and adaptability to challenging conditions.

It prefers well-drained soil but tolerates rocky, sandy, and poor conditions. To create roots during the first growth season, water often; after that, only when necessary.

Avoid soggy areas, as excess moisture can lead to root rot. This juniper requires little maintenance—no pruning necessary unless shaping is desired. It adapts well to cold, wind, and salt exposure, making it ideal for coastal or urban landscapes. Use it for erosion control, foundation planting, or as a decorative, evergreen ground cover.

10. Andorra Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis ‘Plumosa')

Also known as: Plumosa Juniper
Bloom time: Non-flowering (grown for foliage)
Zones: 3–9

Features

Andorra Juniper is a compact, low-spreading evergreen shrub with soft, feathery foliage that starts bright green and develops a purplish-bronze tint in winter.

Growing about 1–2 feet tall and spreading 6–10 feet wide, it creates a dense, mounded ground cover ideal for slopes, borders, or rock gardens. This variety is drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and thrives in poor or sandy soils.

Its year-round colour, fine texture, and natural weed-suppressing qualities make it both attractive and functional in low-maintenance landscapes, particularly where erosion control or evergreen coverage is desired.

How To Grow

Plant Andorra Juniper in full sun for best colour and growth. It prefers well-drained soil and tolerates a range of poor, rocky, or sandy conditions.

To establish roots, water often during the first year. As it grows resistant to drought, water it less frequently. Avoid wet or clay-heavy soils that retain water.

No pruning is required, but it can be lightly trimmed to maintain shape or boundaries. Use it as a low-maintenance ground cover, in mass plantings, or for erosion control on sunny slopes.

How To Choose The Right Juniper Shrubs For Your Garden

Juniper shrubs come in many shapes, sizes, and colours—perfect for any garden style. With so many types of juniper shrubs available, you can easily find the ideal variety to suit your garden’s needs and style.

Here’s how to find the perfect juniper for your landscape.

1. Match The Mood Of Your Garden

Your garden should reflect your style, and junipers can help set the tone. If you love a bold, artistic look, Hollywood Juniper brings height and visual drama with its sculptural, twisting branches.

For a peaceful, relaxed vibe, Blue Pacific offers soft, flowing foliage that gently spreads across the ground. Whether your garden is formal, wild, coastal, or minimalist, there’s a juniper with the form and feel to match your mood and enhance your space beautifully.

2. Think In Layers, Not Just Lines

Plants can be layered in your garden to create depth and complexity, much like in a painting. Start with low growers such as Calgary Carpet to create a lush base layer. Then, add mid-sized shrubs like Sea Green to introduce gentle curves and softness.

Finally, use tall, columnar types like Spartan as vertical accents that guide the eye upward. This layered approach brings rhythm, fullness, and a more natural, visually interesting structure to your landscape.

3. Let Colour Be Your Canvas

Junipers are more than green! Choose varieties that bring year-round colour and personality to your garden. Blue Star provides a cool, silvery-blue hue that contrasts beautifully with warm tones.

Old Gold lights up borders with golden-yellow tips, while Andorra shifts to a purplish-bronze in winter, adding seasonal flair.

Whether you want bold contrast or harmonious tones, junipers offer a broad palette. Mixing colours thoughtfully can bring out the best in your garden’s design and highlight its natural features.

4. Embrace The Elements

Junipers are rugged, but each type has strengths. If you’re gardening near the ocean, Shore Juniper resists salt spray and thrives in sandy soil.

For erosion control on slopes or banks, Bar Harbour spreads widely and forms a dense, ground-hugging mat that holds soil in place.

Whether you face wind, drought, or poor soil, there’s a juniper that can handle it. Choosing one that fits your environmental conditions ensures long-term success with less effort and fewer plant losses.

5. Future-Proof Your Landscape

It's easier to choose juniper shrub varieties that precisely suit your garden objectives and lifestyle when you take into account their upkeep requirements.

If you prefer low-effort beauty, choose slow growers like Blue Star, which hold their shape and colour without much pruning. Fast-growing types like Spartan may require trimming but offer quicker results for screens or hedges.

By matching the growth rate and care level to your lifestyle, you’ll enjoy a garden that stays attractive without demanding more than you can give, now and in the future.

Conclusion

Juniper shrubs offer incredible variety, from low-growing ground covers to tall, elegant evergreens, making them perfect for any garden style or purpose. Their diverse colours, shapes, and hardiness levels provide year-round interest with minimal maintenance.

Exploring the various types of juniper shrubs helps gardeners choose the perfect plants to add beauty, structure, and durability to any landscape.

Whether for privacy, erosion control, or decorative appeal, junipers are a reliable, versatile choice for gardeners everywhere.

I trust you enjoyed this article on the Best Types Of Juniper Shrubs For Stunning Gardens. Please stay tuned for more blog posts soon. Take care!

JeannetteZ

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