Blue Chip Juniper Bush
Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Chip'
Planting & Care
Planting & Care
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Preorder Shipping Schedule
We ship your plants when it's safe to transport them to your zone. Dates are estimated and subject to weather delays.
| Zone 3-4 | Week of March 30th |
| Zone 5 | Week of March 16th |
| Zone 6-12 | Week of March 2nd |
Shipping Rates
Ships in 7-10 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected
| Under $50 | $9.99 |
| $50 - $99.99 | $14.99 |
| $100 - $149.99 | $16.99 |
| $150 - $198.99 | $24.99 |
| $199+ | FREE |
✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee
Understanding Our Container Sizes
At Nature Hills, our plants are sold in industry-standard nursery containers. You will notice we use the word "container" rather than "gallon." Container numbers follow a nursery trade size standard, not liquid volume. The number tells you the plant's size category and general maturity level. A larger container means a more established plant with a stronger root system.

Container Sizes
Quart
Plant age: 6 months to 1 year
Best for: Ground covers, perennials, ornamental grasses
What to expect: Our smallest and most affordable size. Well-suited for planting in multiples across a large area. Allow 1 to 2 seasons for full establishment.
#1 Container
Plant age: 1 to 2 years
Best for: Shrubs, perennials, smaller trees
What to expect: About the size of a large coffee can. A well-developed root system in a manageable size. Good value choice when you have time to let the plant grow into the space over a season or two.
#2 Container
Plant age: 2 to 3 years
Best for: Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment
What to expect: A noticeable step up from a #1 in both plant size and root development. Good choice when you want visible presence without going to a larger size.
#3 Container
Plant age: 3 to 4 years
Best for: Most plants, most situations — flowering trees, shade trees, evergreen shrubs
What to expect: Our most popular size. Strong, developed root system. Plants in a #3 container make an immediate visual impact from day one. If you want a head start rather than waiting seasons for a plant to fill in, this is typically the right choice.
#5 Container and Larger
Plant age: 4 to 5+ years
Best for: Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact
What to expect: Large, mature plants ready to make an immediate statement in your landscape. We also carry #7 and larger sizes for select varieties.
Why "Container" and Not "Gallon"?
Nursery container sizes follow an industry trade standard established for the nursery and horticulture industry. The number is a size designation, not a measurement of liquid volume. Actual soil volume varies by plant type, root mass, and growing medium. Using "container" is the accurate industry term. When you see #1, #2, or #3, think of it as the plant's size tier, not a gallon measurement.
Root Pouch Containers
Some Nature Hills plants arrive in a Root Pouch, a breathable fabric container made from 100% recycled materials. Root Pouches encourage denser root development through air pruning, which discourages root circling and promotes a stronger, more fibrous root ball at the time of planting.

There are two types. Knowing which one you have changes how you plant:
- Degradable (brown or tan fabric): Plant the entire pouch directly in the ground. The fabric breaks down naturally in the soil over time.
- Non-degradable (black or gray fabric): Remove the pouch before planting. Cut the bottom open with scissors, then peel the sides away. The fibrous root ball will hold its shape.
Not sure which type you have? Check the tag on your plant or contact us and we will confirm.
Full Root Pouch planting guide
Choosing the Right Size
| Size | Plant Age | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Quart | 6 mo to 1 yr | Ground covers, perennials, grasses. Budget-friendly for mass plantings. |
| #1 Container | 1 to 2 yrs | Shrubs, perennials, small trees. Value choice for patient gardeners. |
| #2 Container | 2 to 3 yrs | Shrubs and trees where you want faster establishment. |
| #3 Container | 3 to 4 yrs | Most plants. Immediate visual impact. Our most popular size. |
| #5 and larger | 4+ yrs | Specimen plants, privacy screens, maximum instant impact. |
Still not sure which size is right for your project? Our plant specialists are happy to help. Contact us and we will point you in the right direction.
Plant Sentry™ Protected
Your order is protected by our compliance system that:
- Prevents restricted plants from shipping to your state
- Ensures plants meet your state's agricultural requirements
- Protects gardens from invasive pests and diseases
Description
When it comes to a sound investment in your landscaping, the Blue Chip Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis 'Blue Chip') is a great evergreen choice. This attractive groundcover will remind you day after day what a great decision you made by choosing it!
Not only is it the perfect shade of iridescent bluish-green for the majority of the year, but it also provides dense coverage and winter interest. This Juniper's steel-blue foliage tends to transform into violet tones in winter.
Birds love building their nest in Juniper, although the Blue Chip's low-growing nature may not make it a bird's first choice for a nesting location. The Blue Chip Juniper is also highly disease- and pest-resistant! Growing throughout USDA planting zones 3 to 9, Blue Chip grows just 12 inches tall but spreads to a whopping 6-8 feet in width!
Landscape Application:
Blue Chip Juniper creates a pop of blue that perfectly offsets your other landscaping plants! From ornamental grass to perennials, happily rambling around Roses or mixing with other evergreen shrubs and Juniper groundcovers!
Blue Chip Juniper is also called "Creeping Juniper" because it slowly spreads to completely fill in bare and unsightly spaces. Over time, it will grow to cover 10 lateral feet. And because it doesn't grow much taller than 10 inches, you don't have to worry about pruning or shaping it. Additionally, as an evergreen, you can count on it providing ground coverage all year round.
Wonderful in mass plantings or used to edge taller varieties, you'll love this rugged, durable solution to soften the look of slopes and retaining walls, use creeping Juniper. Create a magnificent Rock Garden, in Zen Gardens, and work beautifully in smaller lots.
Plant Groundcover Juniper at the top of retaining walls. You'll be thrilled to watch the creeping habit grow downward to create a beautiful hillside of delightful blue foliage. Slowing erosion and rainwater runoff and transforming an unsafe, hard-to-mow hillside into a showy landscape feature!
- Softly Needled Cool-Blue Evergreen Shrub
- Low-Growing But Very Wide Spreading!
- Gorgeous Groundcover Specimen
- Utilitarian Workhorse - Erosion Control & Weed Block
- Superior Groundcover, Fillers & Thillers In The Ground & Containers
#ProPlantTips for Care:
Junipers love full sun and in hotter climates do well with afternoon shade. Tolerant of dry, rocky soils, grows well in both acidic and alkaline conditions, clay soil, and even does great in average well-drained garden settings equally well! Juniper requires fast-draining soil to thrive and this is not a plant that can handle "wet feet" or standing water.
Water regularly for the first 2 years and gradually extend the period between waterings. Once established, Junipers are rugged and long-lived drought-tolerant shrubs!
Be sure to wear gloves when you handle Juniper. This variety is softer than others, but it's easy enough to pull on some protection. This is especially important if your skin is sensitive to Juniper. Prune in the early spring to nip back wayward branches and shape your shrub, or try your hand at creating unique Bonsai!
- Versatile Full Sun & Afternoon Shade
- Best In Excellent Drainage
- Moderate to Low Moisture - Drought Tolerant
- Low Maintenance - Prune Early Spring
- Extremely Cold Hard & Pest/Disease Resistant
- Tolerates Urban Pollution & Coastal Conditions
Looking for a reliable ground cover with impeccable color? Gorgeous Blue Chip Groundcover Juniper has you covered all year round! Order yours at NatureHills.com today!
Easy How-To's For Creating Cascading Bonsai Using Groundcover Juniper
For the adventurous plant lover, try your hand at creating Cascading bonsai using Blue Rug Juniper. Remove the plant from its pot and study it. Use a small garden rake to remove dirt as needed. Prepare to pull the roots apart, as you need to.
You'll first find the trunkline - or thickest stem - which will form the basis of your design. Remember to follow the plant and let it dictate the design.
Decide which branches you'll keep in the design. You'll need a head branch and 1 or 2 cascading branches that have plenty of twists and turns for interest. Once you've decided, remove the other branches.
Wire the head branch into an upright shape. The cascading branches will flow downward from that head branch. Wire the twists and bends into the cascading branches for a long, beautiful downward flow. Use a taller bonsai pot and a rich, fast-draining soil mix for acid-loving plants.
Send us pictures! We'd love to see them!
Specifications
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Botanical Name
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Class
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Species
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Cultivar
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Growing Zones
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Height
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Width
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Sunlight
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Growth RateModerate
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Flower Color
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Leaf Color
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Fall Color
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NativeYes
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FragrantYes
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Bloom PeriodLate Spring
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Does Not Ship ToAK, CA, HI, ID, MT, PR
Characteristics

