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juniper identity #866834

Asked May 02, 2024, 8:32 PM EDT

Is this a Blue Star juniper? It has grown so big I am not sure what type it is.

Kalamazoo County Michigan

Expert Response

Hello Joan,
Your plant appears to be a creeping juniper. What I'm not so certain about is whether this is a blue star juniper. How long have you had this plant? Do you prune it? 

Juniperus squamata, aka Blue Star Juniper, Single-seeded Juniper, Blue Star Flaky Juniper, is a slow-growing mounded shrub that grows to about 3ft. tall. Your plant seems to be larger than that. Are there more than one juniper planted in that area? Sometimes, it's difficult to see the details in a photo, I'm including some information that will help you with an identification.

Quick ID Hints:
1.  evergreen, compact shrub with a dense habit
2.  blue-gray, awl-shaped needles that overlap and appear in           whorls of three, and a distinctive white band or line on the           needles.
3.  the fruit is a blueberry-like female seed cone that contains           one seed
4.  scaly bark                       
https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/juniperus-squamata-blue-star/ I think this is a blue star juniper because I see some white on the needles, and some of the leaves look as if they have the 'star' on the tips. You would better be able to tell if these markings are present. 

The following article shows a list of some popular juniper cultivars that might help you identify your shrub if you don't believe it's a blue star.
https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/juniperus-squamata-blue-star

If you still have questions or need more information, please don't hesitate to contact me again.

Happy May!

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