Blue Rug Creeping Juniper

Blue Rug Creeping Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis 'Wiltonii')

Blue Rug Creeping Juniper, Juniperus horizontalis 'Wiltonii', is a very low, spreading evergreen groundcover prized for its dense, prostrate habit and bright silver blue foliage that hugs the ground in a clean, uniform carpet. Typically growing only 4 to 6 inches tall while spreading several feet wide, it quickly covers bare soil, slopes, and edges with year round color. The soft, scale like foliage reads as blue gray to silver blue in the growing season and often tints purple in colder weather, giving even large plantings a finished, polished look with very little ongoing care.

Distinctive Features

Blue Rug Creeping Juniper forms a tightly knitted mat of trailing branches that conform to the contours of the ground, draping neatly over rocks, walls, and grade changes without looking messy or unkempt. Mature plants typically spread 4 to 6 feet, sometimes more in ideal conditions, creating a solid living mulch that suppresses weeds and reduces the need for traditional mulching. The foliage is a clear silver blue in full sun, one of the brightest among creeping junipers, and the slight purple cast in winter adds subtle seasonal interest without sacrificing coverage. Tough, wind tolerant, and salt tolerant, this cultivar is especially well suited for exposed sites, slopes, and coastal or roadside plantings where other shrubs often struggle.

Growing Conditions

• Light: Prefers full sun for best color and density; shade leads to thinner growth and a less vibrant blue tone.
• Soil: Thrives in well drained, sandy or rocky soils; tolerates poor, lean ground but should not be planted where water stands or soil stays consistently wet.
• Water: Water regularly during the first season to establish roots, then only during extended dry spells once established; naturally drought tolerant in suitable soil.
• Hardiness: Generally hardy in USDA Zones 3 to 9 when planted in sunny, well drained sites.
• Size: Very low growing, typically 4 to 6 inches tall with a spread of 4 to 6 feet or more over time.
• Growth Rate: Slow to moderate grower that steadily knits together into a dense carpet over several seasons.

Ideal Uses

• Focal Point Groundcover: Use around boulders, at the front of beds, or near patios where its silver blue foliage and low, even habit create a focal point that unifies the planting without blocking views.
• Slopes and Banks: Excellent for stabilizing sunny slopes, hillsides, and berms where turf is difficult to maintain and erosion control is needed.
• Rock and Gravel Gardens: Natural choice for rock gardens, dry riverbeds, and gravel plantings where it weaves between stones and softens hard edges.
• Path and Drive Edging: Plant along walkways and driveways to form a neat evergreen edge that never needs mowing and keeps borders looking finished year round.
• Coastal and Tough Sites: Well suited to coastal exposure, windy locations, and urban sites with reflected heat where a rugged, low groundcover is required.

Low Maintenance Care

• Watering: After establishment, water deeply but infrequently, allowing the soil surface to dry slightly between waterings to encourage deep roots and drought tolerance.
• Pruning: Requires minimal pruning; lightly trim stray or overhanging stems in late winter or early spring to keep edges crisp and off paths or hardscape.
• Fertilizing: Feed in early spring with a light application of a balanced, slow release fertilizer if growth appears thin or foliage looks pale.
• Mulching: Mulch newly planted areas to reduce weeds and conserve moisture until plants spread; once filled in, the dense foliage acts as its own living mulch.
• Problem Resistance: Generally resistant to deer browsing and tolerant of wind, salt, and urban conditions when drainage is good; avoid soggy soils to prevent root problems.

Why Choose Blue Rug Creeping Juniper?

• Exceptionally Low Habit: Stays just a few inches tall while spreading broadly, making it one of the flattest, most effective evergreen groundcovers available.
• Striking Silver Blue Color: Bright blue foliage with subtle purple winter tones provides strong color contrast and year round interest.
• Rugged and Adaptable: Handles poor, dry, rocky, and coastal soils once established, thriving where many other plants fail.
• Weed Suppressing Carpet: Dense, prostrate growth knits together into a living mulch that reduces weeding and eliminates the need for frequent re mulching.
• Design Versatility: Works in rock gardens, slopes, foundation beds, and contemporary landscapes wherever a clean, low evergreen layer is needed.

With its ultra low profile, silver blue foliage, and tough, adaptable nature, Blue Rug Creeping Juniper is a dependable, long lived groundcover that turns sunny problem spots into cohesive, easy care planting areas.