Grey Owl Juniper Bush

Name: Grey Owl Juniper Bush
Brand: Nature Hills Nursery
SKU: 22965E
Price: 33.59 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.33 (6 reviews)

Juniperus virginiana 'Grey Owl'

Silvery-Blue Foliage with Vase Shape Creates Year-Round Garden Elegance
Cold Hardy: Thrives in Zones 2-9
Grows 2-3 ft Tall, 4-6 ft Wide
Evergreen Year-Round Color and Privacy
Native, Pollinator-Friendly Shrub

$33⁵⁹

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Plant Size

#1 Container #3 Container

Product variants

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.

Plants growing in Root Pouch fabric containers, showing the breathable woven fabric construction

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 specifications
Plant Characteristics	Cold hardy, Evergreen, Low Maintenance, Deer-resistant, Salt Tolerant, Heat Tolerant, Drought resistant, Hedge/Screen, Container Friendly, Non-invasive
Hardiness Zone	2a to 9b
Sunlight	Full sun
Height	2-3 ft
Width	4-6 ft
Watering Needs	Low
Growth Rate	Moderate
Growth Habit	Spreading, Upright
Blooms In	Spring
Flower Color	White
Fragrant	Yes
Suitable Space	Indoors, Outdoors
Plant Name	Juniper
Botanical Name	Juniperus virginiana 'Grey Owl'
Species	virginiana
Cultivar	Grey Owl
Class	Pinopsida
Does Not Ship To	AK, CA, HI, ID, MT, PR

Superb color and form, the Grey Owl Juniper (Juniperus virginiana 'Grey Owl') is a needled groundcover evergreen. Its colorful foliage and silvery berry-like cones will provide year-round appeal for you and your wildlife!

Your Grey Owl Juniper is at once both elegant and refined. The gently ascending branches rise up and then slightly dip, creating a soft, restful feel amid other plantings. Silver-tinted, green needles lend the foliage an airy, bluish-hue that appears far more sophisticated than other common evergreens.

Grey Owl Juniper has an attractive, spreading habit with a slight vase shape. The female Grey Owl Juniper is known for the copious blue cones it produces in summer that persist into winter! The berry-like cones will be an attraction for your wildlife, especially the birds who come to nest in the dense foliage. In colder climates, the tips of the branches will also transition to purple for the winter months.

Hardy throughout USDA planting zones 4 to 9, grows to a modest 2-3 feet in height, and spreads an impressive 5-6 feet in width, filling your landscape with unique fresh color and year-round appeal!

Landscape Application:

Silvery gray and blue, the Grey Owl Juniper creates a pop of unexpected color that perfectly offsets all other landscaping plants! Showing off among chartreuse and gold plants, among silver and white variegated shrubs in Moon Gardens, and adds contrast to a dark foliage garden!

Mixing beautifully in formal to informal settings, from ornamental grass to perennials, to wildflowers and flowering shrubs. Grey Owl happily rambles around Roses or mixes with other evergreen shrubs and Juniper groundcovers! Create a magnificent Rock Garden, and restful and calming Zen Gardens, and add unique color that goes well with hardscaping and most home siding colors.

This Creeping Juniper slowly spreads to completely fill in bare and unsightly spaces. 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.

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!

Colorful Silver-Tinted Awl-Like Foliage
Evergreen Year-Round Interest
Attractive Silvery Cones For Interest & Wildlife
Spreading Vase-Shaped Groundcover Habit
Excellent Edging, Mass Plantings, Groundcover & Commercial Plantings

#ProPlantTips for Care:

Grey Owl performs best in full sun, but is tolerant of a variety of conditions, and is considered a long-lived and easy-to-care-for shrub. Growing best in any kind of well-drained soil and moderate to low moisture environments.

Pay attention to watering the first season. Apply a medium amount of water on a regular basis, if you don't receive adequate rainfall. After Juniper is established, it becomes waterwise. However, we advise that you protect your investment with water during long periods of drought.

Overall, Grey Owl is relatively trouble-free and a low-maintenance shrub you can leave to grow naturally beautiful. Prune Juniper shrubs in the early spring to shear up any wayward branches. Even though deer don't prefer the taste or texture of Juniper, you'll want to spray repellent on planting day. If you live with deer in your area, you need to train them to leave your plants alone. Reapply as directed by the label.

Full Sun & Some Afternoon Shade
Well-Drained Soils Of All Kinds
Moderate to Low Moisture Needs & Drought-Tolerant
Prune Early Spring
Deer, Pest & Disease-Resistant & Coastal, Heat & Cold-Tolerant

As popular as evergreen shrubs are for home landscapes, few are as endearing as the Grey Owl Juniper. With its superior color, elegant form, and appeal to wildlife, Grey Owl Juniper will be both a practical and charming addition to your home. Order now at NatureHills.com!

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This product has no reviews of its own. The merchant grouped it with related products, so the reviews shown are from across that group.

very attractive plant

Mine is my senior plant of many plants, and many long gone. It's 25 some years old and about 4'hx8' but would be much larger without pruning. The silver-blue foliage is really beautiful. It's one weakness with age is susceptibility to breakage from heavy snow and ice load in cold regions.

Hello Bob,

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with your Grey Owl Juniper! It’s truly heartwarming to hear how this plant has been a senior member of your garden for 25 years—what a wonderful testament to your care and connection. Your description of the silver-blue foliage really paints a lovely picture of the splendor it brings to your space.

You’ve made an excellent point about the susceptibility to breakage from heavy snow and ice. For gardeners in colder climates, protecting junipers during winter can indeed be challenging. To help minimize this risk, consider gently wrapping the plant with burlap when heavy snowfall or ice is expected, or using string ties to support the branches—but be careful not to bind them too tightly. Pruning selective weaker branches can also reduce weight stress before winter. If you haven’t already, you might find our blog on winter plant protection helpful; it offers great tips specifically for conifers in cold regions.

Thank you again for your thoughtful review. Your dedication inspires all of us here who care deeply about plants thriving across many seasons and years!

Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team

very attractive plant

Hello Bob,

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with your Grey Owl Juniper! It's truly inspiring to hear about a plant thriving so beautifully for 25 years under your care. We completely agree—the silver-blue foliage is remarkable and adds such elegance to any garden. You’ve done a wonderful job maintaining its shape through pruning.

Your note about its susceptibility to breakage from heavy snow and ice in colder regions is a valuable insight. For caring for older Junipers like yours in snowy climates, a gentle shake of the branches after heavy snowfalls can help prevent excessive weight build-up. Additionally, if possible, installing some protective shelter during storms or using support stakes early in the growth process may reinforce the branches.

If you’d like, we have a range of resources and seasonal care tips tailored for Junipers in cold regions on our website. Never hesitate to reach out should you want advice tailored especially to meet your juniper’s needs as it matures further.

Wishing you happy planting,
The Nature Hills Plant Experts

Color

I planted the grey owl juniper for the foliage color. Most of the other junipers I looked at were shades of green and this one stood out. Looks nice on my side hill.

Hi Chewbaca,

Thank you so much for sharing your positive experience with the Grey Owl Juniper! We're delighted to hear that its unique foliage color stood out to you and that it looks lovely on your side hill. Choosing a plant with striking color can really brighten up a space, and the Grey Owl Juniper’s soft silvery-blue hue is definitely a showstopper.

To keep your juniper looking its best, make sure it has plenty of sunlight and well-drained soil. It’s fairly low-maintenance but does appreciate occasional watering during dry spells. If you’d ever like tips on pruning or companion plants that complement its color, just reach out—we’re happy to help!

Rooting for your garden’s success,
Your Nature Hills Plant Care Team

Color

I planted the grey owl juniper for the foliage color. Most of the other junipers I looked at were shades of green and this one stood out. Looks nice on my side hill.

Hi Chewbaca,

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with the Grey Owl Juniper! We're thrilled to hear that its unique foliage color brought the perfect touch of distinction to your side hill. The silvery-blue hues definitely make it a beautiful and eye-catching choice compared to typical greens.

If you’re looking to keep that gorgeous color vibrant, make sure your juniper gets plenty of sunlight—ideally full sun—and good air circulation. This helps maintain that lovely silvery tint and promotes healthy growth. Also, regular watering, especially in the first year while it’s establishing, can make a big difference.

If you ever want more tips on styling a landscape with color contrasts or mulching best practices to keep your planting spot looking fresh, we’d be happy to help!

Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team

Easy to care for

Virtually no maintenance required in growing the grey owl juniper. The colorful foliage is a big plus!

Hi Raymond,

Thank you so much for sharing your positive experience with the Grey Owl Juniper! We’re thrilled to hear that this beautiful plant has been so easy to care for and that its colorful foliage has brightened your space. Junipers really are resilient and hassle-free, making them perfect for garden enthusiasts seeking both style and simplicity.

If ever you’re curious about ideal positioning or seasonal tips to keep your Grey Owl Juniper thriving year-round, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re always here to provide expert guidance and ensure your garden flourishes beautifully!

Rooting for your garden’s success,
Your Nature Hills Plant Care Team

Easy to care for

Virtually no maintenance required in growing the grey owl juniper. The colorful foliage is a big plus!

Dear Raymond,

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with the Grey Owl Juniper! We're thrilled to hear that it’s proving to be such an easy-care addition to your garden and that you appreciate the colorful foliage—it's truly a standout feature of this variety.

If you ever want to highlight the vibrant colors even more, planting it in full sun can really enhance the foliage’s hues. Also, occasional pruning helps maintain its shape and encourages healthy growth without much effort.

We’re always here if you need tips or want to explore more low-maintenance plants to complement your garden.

Rooting for your garden’s success,
Your Nature Hills Plant Care Team

Frequently Asked Questions

What planting zones is the Grey Owl Juniper hardy in?

Grey Owl Juniper is hardy in USDA zones 4 to 9. This wide hardiness range means it can tolerate winter temperatures from -30°F to 20°F. Plant in spring or fall for best establishment before extreme temperatures arrive.

How tall and wide does a Grey Owl Juniper get at maturity?

Grey Owl Juniper reaches 2-3 feet tall and spreads 5-6 feet wide at maturity. This low, spreading growth habit makes it perfect for groundcover applications in zones 4-9. Plan for its impressive width when spacing plants available at naturehills.com.

Is Grey Owl Juniper a fast-growing or slow-growing shrub?

Grey Owl Juniper is a slow-growing shrub that reaches 2-3 feet tall and spreads 5-6 feet wide over time. This creeping juniper gradually fills spaces rather than providing quick coverage. Plan for patience with this variety, but you'll be rewarded with dense, long-lasting groundcover.

Is Grey Owl Juniper deer resistant?

Grey Owl Juniper is generally deer resistant due to its aromatic oils and needle-like foliage that deer typically avoid. The dense, spreading habit (5-6 feet wide) also makes it less appealing to browse. Plant in open areas where deer pressure is moderate for best results.

How drought tolerant is Grey Owl Juniper once established?

Grey Owl Juniper is highly drought tolerant once established, typically after its first growing season. This hardy evergreen thrives in zones 4-9 with minimal watering needs. Water deeply but infrequently during dry spells for best results, available at naturehills.com.

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Grey Owl Juniper Bush