Juniperus squamata Blue Carpet

Juniperus squamata 'Blue Carpet' , also known as the scaly juniper, is a small evergreen bush with a spreading, low and compact habit, whose very dense foliage displays a magnificent blue-silver shade. It is perfect for colonizing a slope, fitting into a rockery, or filling out a bed in a small garden. This relatively fast-growing conifer is a hardy, undemanding, and highly ornamental plant. It thrives in the sun and well-drained soil, even poor soil, while keeping it fresh.

The scaly juniper, also known as the Nepal juniper, gets its name from its old needles that it keeps at the base of the branches. It is an evergreen species native to the mountains of the Himalayas and China, at an altitude of 1600 to 4900m (5249ft 4in to 16076ft). It is a highly hardy conifer (down to -30°C (-22 °F)) and undemanding belonging to the cypress family.

'Blue Carpet' forms a beautiful bush with a dense, prostrate, and spreading habit after a few years, measuring 30 to 50cm (11.8 to 19.7in) in height with a spread of 1 to 2m (3ft 4in to 6ft 7in), sometimes more depending on the growing conditions. It grows slowly when young, then its growth accelerates slightly as it ages. Its branches arranged in large feathery fronds are completely covered with short and rigid twigs, dressed with small scale-like leaves tightly arranged in alternating whorls of 3, in six rows. The foliage has a remarkable blue-silver hue. The fruits form on female plants, sometimes on plants that are both male and female. They are ovoid false berries called galbulus; they are shiny black when ripe, and contain a seed. Its bark is reddish-brown and peels with age. Junipers have a shallow root system, which sometimes makes them difficult to associate with perennials.

The 'Blue Carpet' juniper is a small conifer undemanding and easy to grow on a slope or in a rockery, as long as the soil remains fairly moist and it is placed in a sunny location. It is also suitable for planting above a wall or near a pool, as it blends well with geometric lines and masonry structures. It can also be easily grown in pots to decorate a terrace or balcony. It can also be installed near a water point, overlooking a rocky scree. The true graphic qualities of conifers naturally impose themselves in the design of a contemporary garden, which prefers the aesthetics of shapes, silhouettes, and textures over the dance of flowers. These plants with their reassuring permanence structurally define a bed, mark pathways, border a terrace, easily substituting for the strong presence of trimmed boxwood. They can be combined with tousled grasses and heathers whose temperament is very complementary. The key is to play with volumes and colours.

Tips : Water regularly during the first two years, and in case of prolonged drought. While it can tolerate periodically dry soil in cool climates, this conifer will be disappointing in Mediterranean climates, which are too dry and hot in summer.