Juniper Shrubs for Landscaping — The Most Interesting Types

Juniper shrubs are the quiet overachievers of the yard. They stay evergreen, shrug off tough spots, and somehow make a garden look “designed” even when you are basically winging it. If you want Juniper Shrubs for Landscaping that feel like a style choice (not a default), the trick is picking the right form: ground cover, dwarf mound, or upright screen.

Below are the most interesting types of juniper shrubs for landscaping, plus quick care notes so they keep looking sharp long after the planting day excitement fades.

The Fast Facts Before You Plant

• Use juniper ground cover landscaping to knit beds, paths, and slopes together.
• Add texture with dwarf juniper shrubs for landscaping and low growing juniper shrubs for landscaping.
• Build height with upright juniper shrubs for landscaping.
• For trouble spots, juniper shrubs for slopes erosion control can stabilize soil and reduce washouts.

Once you match the plant to the job, juniper shrubs for landscaping become almost unfairly easy.

Ground Covers That Act Like Living Carpet

Ground cover juniper shrubs spread low and wide, turning bare soil into a tidy, evergreen “mat.” They are perfect for sunny edges, rock pockets, and anywhere grass refuses to cooperate.

Blue Rug Juniper: The Classic Slope Saver

Blue Rug juniper (Juniperus horizontalis ‘Wiltonii’) grows in a dense, creeping form, staying just a few inches tall while spreading several feet wide. It prefers full sun and well-drained soil and is often used on slopes where water runs off quickly.
If you want a plant that quietly handles both beauty and function, this one is a strong pick for juniper shrubs for slopes erosion control.

Japanese Garden Juniper ‘Nana’: The Soft Spreader

Juniperus procumbens ‘Nana’ (Japanese garden juniper) is another ground-hugging favorite. It stays low, spreads out, and is commonly recommended as a ground cover that can help stabilize slopes or cascade over low walls.
This is one of those low growing juniper shrubs for landscaping that makes rocks, steps, and borders look intentional year-round.

Dwarf And Mounded Types With Big Personality

If ground covers are the rugs, dwarf junipers are the accent pieces. They add color and texture without taking over the bed.

Blue Star Juniper Shrub: A Little Blue Firework

The Blue Star juniper shrub is compact and mounded, with silvery-blue foliage that looks like it was lightly frosted. It’s typically grown in full sun and needs well-drained soil, which makes it a natural fit for rock gardens and front-of-bed accents.
It’s also a great “repeat plant” if you want your landscape to look cohesive without doing complicated design math.

Other dwarf juniper shrubs for landscaping can play similar roles, but the formula stays the same: pick one shape, repeat it, and let the texture do the talking.

Upright And Columnar Types That Add Instant Structure

Upright juniper shrubs for landscaping are the architectural lines. They frame views, add privacy, and keep wide-open spaces from feeling flat.

Skyrocket Juniper: Height Without The Bulk

Skyrocket juniper is loved for its narrow, upright silhouette. It’s a practical choice when you want vertical emphasis in a tight footprint, like along a fence, near a corner, or as a “punctuation mark” at the end of a bed.

Spartan And Taylor: Screens With Different Attitudes

If you want a hedge, Spartan juniper hedge plantings can form a tall, dense evergreen line when spaced for mature width. If you need something slimmer, Taylor juniper privacy screen designs are often chosen for narrow side yards or patios where you want coverage without a bulky wall.

Best Picks By Use Case: Choose The Juniper That Solves Your Problem

Which Juniper Works Best For Foundation Planting?

For juniper shrubs for foundation planting, compact and mounded types usually win because they won’t swallow windows or press against walls. Blue Star is an easy fit for this job, adding blue contrast and tidy structure. Ground-huggers like Juniperus procumbens ‘Nana’ can also work as a soft edge, especially where you want a gentle spill over stone.

Which Juniper Is Best For Slopes And Erosion Control?

For slopes, go low and spreading. Blue Rug juniper and Japanese garden juniper are both commonly used as ground covers that can help stabilize banks and reduce erosion.

Mini before and after
Before: the hill looked patchy, mulch slid downhill after rain, and the whole area felt like a “future project” that never happened.
After: Blue Rug was planted in staggered rows, a few rocks were added for structure, and the slope turned into a calm evergreen blanket that actually stayed put.

Which Juniper Fits A Rock Garden?

For juniper shrubs for rock garden, mix one mounded type with one ground cover type. Blue Star brings a dense mound and sharp texture. ‘Nana’ and Blue Rug weave between stones like living grout. The rocks give structure; the juniper makes it look finished.

Quick Care Notes So Your Interesting Types Stay Healthy

Do Juniper Shrubs Need Full Sun?

Many do best in full sun, especially blue-foliage types where color is stronger with more light. Most plant guides list Blue Rug and ‘Nana’ as full-sun plants, and they recommend Blue Star for full sun too.

How To Plant Juniper Shrubs And Get Spacing Right

If you’re looking up how to plant juniper shrubs, focus on drainage and airflow:

• Plant in well-drained soil and avoid low spots that stay wet.
• Set the root ball level with, or slightly above, surrounding soil.
• Water deeply after planting, then let the soil dry somewhat between waterings.

Base juniper shrub spacing on the plant’s mature width, not its nursery size. If you’re wondering how far apart to plant juniper shrubs, use the expected mature spread so branches don’t pack together and trap moisture.

How Often To Water Juniper Shrubs?

Right after planting, water more consistently while roots establish. After that, most junipers prefer deep, occasional watering rather than frequent small drinks. Overwatering and poor drainage are common reasons for decline.

How To Prune Juniper Shrubs Without Regret

Here’s the big rule: don’t cut back into old bare wood expecting it to fill in. Extension guidance notes that junipers won’t reliably push new growth from old wood, so severe pruning can leave permanent bare spots.
For many conifers, gardeners typically prune juniper shrubs in late winter to early spring, then do light shaping as needed.

The Evergreen Finale: Turning Junipers Into Your Yard’s Secret Weapon

Juniper Shrubs for Landscaping get interesting when you treat them like design tools. Use ground cover juniper shrubs like Blue Rug juniper and Juniperus procumbens ‘Nana’ to knit the ground together, choose a Blue Star juniper shrub for compact texture, and bring in upright juniper shrubs for landscaping like Skyrocket, Spartan, or Taylor when you need height and privacy.

Give them sun, well-drained soil, and gentle pruning, and your juniper landscaping will keep the yard looking structured and fresh, even when everything else is taking a seasonal nap.