Plant Profile: Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase'

Names

Blue Vase Juniper

  • Photo of Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase' (Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase's)

Phonetic Spelling:jew-NIP-er-us chi-NEN-sis

Genus:Juniperus

Species:chinensis

Family:Cupressaceae

The Blue Vase Juniper is a needle-bearing evergreen shrub belonging to the cypress family, native to Asia. Characterized by its upright, spreading growth habit, it typically reaches heights of 3 to 5 feet and spreads 2 to 4 feet wide, resembling a vase shape. Its striking steel blue foliage retains its vibrant color throughout the year.

For optimal growth, plant it in average, moist, well-drained soil, ideally in full sun to partial shade. This shrub is adaptable to various soil types, including clay, but struggles in poorly-drained conditions. It serves well as a focal point in gardens or as part of foundation plantings. Once established, it can withstand urban environments and periods of drought. Additional details regarding Juniperus chinensis, many of which pertain to the Blue Vase variety, are available.

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase' Feature Summary

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase' Image Gallery

Tags

#evergreen
#low growing
#specimen
#shrub
#salt tolerant
#low maintenance
#air pollution tolerant
#cpp
#deer resistant
#evergreen shrub
#rocky soils tolerant
#dry soils tolerant

Similar Plants

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase' Feature Summary

Attributes
China, Mongolia, Japan, Himalayas
Resistant to deer, air pollution, drought tolerant, salt tolerant
Colorful
Fruit
No true fruits, but female cones are blue, fleshy "berry" looking and edible, often used as a seasoning.
Flowers
No flowers, but cones are large and brown and fall apart upon maturity. Females' cone of light blue, fleshy "berry"
Leaves
Bark
Ridged and fissured peeling in strips
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
4a
4b
5b
5a
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
3a
3b
9a
9b
Landscape
Rock Garden
Asian Garden
Border
Foundation Planting
Specimen
Drought
Deer
Pollution
Salt

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase' Attributes

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase': Country Or Region Of Origin

China, Mongolia, Japan, Himalayas

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase': Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems)

Resistant to deer, air pollution, drought tolerant, salt tolerant

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase': Recommended Propagation Strategy

Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase': Play Value

Attractive Flowers
Attracts Pollinators
Buffer
Colorful
Defines Paths
Easy to Grow
Edible fruit
Fragrance
Pieces Used in Games
Screening
Shade
Sound
Textural
Wildlife Cover/Habitat
Wildlife Food Source
Wildlife Larval Host
Wildlife Nesting
Wind Break
Wind Shimmer

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase' Fruit

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase': Fruit Description

No true fruits, but female cones are blue, fleshy "berry" looking and edible, often used as a seasoning.

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase' Flowers

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase': Flower Description

No flowers, but cones are large and brown and fall apart upon maturity. Females' cone of light blue, fleshy "berry"

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase' Leaves

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase': Leaf Description

Dense, steel blue scale-like foliage.

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase': Leaf Color

spa
Blue

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase': Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase': Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase': Hairs Present

No
Yes

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase': Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase': Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase' Bark

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase': Bark Description

Ridged and fissured peeling in strips

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase' Whole Plant Traits

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase': Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase': Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics

Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase': Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase': Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase': Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase': Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase' Cultural Conditions

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase': Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase': Soil pH

Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase': Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase': NC Region

Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase': USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
3a
thermostat
3b
thermostat
4a
thermostat
4b
thermostat
5a
thermostat
5b
thermostat
6a
thermostat
6b
thermostat
7a
thermostat
7b
thermostat
8a
thermostat
8b
thermostat
9a
thermostat
9b

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase' Stem

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase': Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase' Landscape

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase': Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase': Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase': Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Juniperus chinensis 'Blue Vase': Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland