Looking for the right plants to grow with your Blue Rug Juniper? Choosing the perfect blue rug juniper companion plants can make your garden look complete. This low-growing, silvery-blue evergreen is a star, but it needs good partners to really shine. The right pairings will save you work, improve your soil, and create a stunning landscape that lasts all year.
Let’s talk about what makes a good neighbor for this juniper. Blue Rug Juniper spreads wide and stays low. It loves full sun and needs soil that drains well. You want plants that enjoy the same conditions but don’t compete too hard. Good companions add different colors, textures, and heights. They also help cover the ground and keep weeds away.
Blue Rug Juniper Companion Plants
Here are some of the best plants to pair with your juniper. These selections consider color, care needs, and seasonal interest.
Ornamental Grasses
Grasses add movement and a soft texture that contrasts beautifully with the juniper’s dense, needle-like foliage. They are generally tough and drought-tolerant.
* Blue Fescue: This grass echoes the blue color but with a fine, mounded form. It’s a perfect match in both hue and sun preference.
* Feather Reed Grass (‘Karl Foerster’): Its upright, vertical habit creates a striking contrast against the horizontal juniper. It provides great winter structure.
* Japanese Forest Grass (for partial shade edges): If part of your planting gets some afternoon shade, the bright golden, flowing blades of this grass look amazing next to blue.
Flowering Perennials
These plants bring seasonal color that pops against the steady blue backdrop. Choose varieties that don’t need constant watering.
* Sedum (‘Autumn Joy’): This is a top choice. Its succulent leaves and pink-to-rust flowers look great from late summer into winter. It’s incredibly tough.
* Lavender: The fragrant purple spikes and silvery foliage complement the juniper perfectly. Both love hot, dry, sunny spots.
* Coreopsis: For a burst of cheerful yellow, coreopsis is reliable and long-blooming. It’s airy and doesn’t smother the juniper.
* Salvia (‘May Night’): Spikes of deep purple flowers attract pollinators and provide strong color in early summer.
Other Evergreen Shrubs
Mixing evergreens builds a solid foundation for your garden. Vary the shapes and colors for interest.
* Dwarf Mugo Pine: Its dark green, dense bun shape offers a different evergreen texture on a similar scale.
* Boxwood: A small, rounded boxwood provides formal structure and bright green color next to the informal blue mat.
* Hens-and-Chicks (Sempervivum): These small succulents are fantastic for tucking into pockets at the edge of the juniper. They come in many colors and are very low-maintenance.
Bulbs for Seasonal Surprises
Bulbs are a clever way to add early color before the juniper’s companions fully wake up. They bloom and then dissapear, making room for other plants.
* Crocus: These are often the first sign of spring, poking right through the juniper.
* Daffodils: Their bright yellow and white flowers look lovely in spring. The juniper helps hide their dying foliage later.
* Alliums (Ornamental Onions): The tall, spherical purple flowers in late spring create a playful, architectural contrast.
Ground Covers
Partnering two ground covers can create a beatiful tapestry effect. Ensure they have similar vigor so one doesn’t take over.
* Creeping Thyme: It forms a fragrant mat that blooms with tiny pink or purple flowers. It can lightly trail over the juniper edges.
* Creeping Phlox: In spring, it becomes a carpet of vibrant color (pink, white, purple) that sits beautifully next to the blue.
* Snow-in-Summer: Its white flowers in early summer pair stunningly with blue foliage, and its silvery leaves tie the look together.
Plants to Avoid
Not every plant is a good friend to your juniper. Steer clear of plants that need lots of water or shade, or that might get too large.
* Water-Lovers (like Hostas or Astilbes): These will rot in the dry soil your juniper prefers.
* Fast-Spreading, Aggressive Plants: Avoid things like some mints or aggressive spreaders that might grow over and smother the juniper.
* Large Shrubs or Trees: They will cast too much shade and compete heavily for water and nutrients.
Designing Your Blue Rug Juniper Garden
Knowing what plants to use is half the battle. Here’s how to put them together in a way that looks intentional and thrives.
Consider the Layout
Think about layers. Your Blue Rug Juniper is the bottom layer. Place taller grasses or perennials behind it or slightly within its spread so they rise above. Use smaller bulbs or ground covers right at its front edge. Don’t just plant in a straight line; cluster plants in odd-numbered groups for a natural feel.
Focus on Color Theory
The blue-silver foliage is your anchor.
* Complementary Colors: Oranges and yellows (like coreopsis or sedum’s rust flowers) make the blue look even brighter.
* Monochromatic Scheme: Use other blue, silver, or purple plants (like blue fescue or lavender) for a soothing, cohesive look.
* Seasonal Shifts: Plan so something is always interesting, from spring bulbs to summer flowers to winter evergreen structure and seed heads.
Practical Planting Steps
1. Prepare the Area: Clear all weeds and grass. Loosen the soil and mix in some compost for drainage, but avoid making it too rich.
2. Position Your Plants: While they are still in their pots, arrange them on the soil surface. Space the juniper properly (usually 4-6 feet apart) and place companions around them.
3. Plant: Dig holes twice as wide as the root balls. Place each plant so the top of its root ball is level with the ground. Backfill and gently firm the soil.
4. Water and Mulch: Water deeply after planting. Apply a thin layer of gravel or crushed stone mulch. This looks great with the juniper and helps keep the soil dry.
Care Tips for Your Plant Community
Once established, this should be a low-care garden. Here’s how to keep it healthy.
* Watering: Water regularly only for the first season. After that, these plants are very drought-tolerant. Overwatering is a bigger risk than underwatering.
* Pruning: Blue Rug Juniper rarely needs pruning except to remove any dead branches or control its spread. Simply snip back wayward stems to a joint.
* Fertilizing: Go easy. A light application of a balanced fertilizer in early spring is plenty. Too much food can cause weak, leggy growth.
* Weeding: Keep the area weed-free, especially while plants are getting established. The mulch and dense planting will eventually suppress most weeds.
FAQ: Blue Rug Juniper Companions
What grows well with creeping juniper?
The principles are the same. Most plants listed here, like sedum, ornamental grasses, lavender, and thyme, are excellent companions for any creeping juniper variety.
What should I not plant near junipers?
Avoid plants that need moist, rich soil. Also, keep junipers away from apple and crabapple trees, as they can host a disease called cedar-apple rust.
Can I plant flowers over blue rug juniper?
You should not plant within the main spread of the juniper, as it needs air circulation and its own root space. Plant companions around its edges or slightly within its outer reach, not directly on top of it.
How fast does blue rug juniper spread?
It’s a moderately fast grower for a ground cover, typically adding 12 to 18 inches per year once established. Plan your spacing with its mature size in mind.
Can hostas grow with blue rug juniper?
This is not a good pairing. Hostas need consistent moisture and often prefer some shade, while junipers need dry, sunny conditions. The hosta would likely struggle and rot.
Creating a garden with Blue Rug Juniper and its companions is rewarding. You get a landscape that changes with the seasons but always looks grounded. By choosing plants that share similar needs, you build a resilient plant community. This saves you time and resources. Your garden will look thoughtfully designed, with textures and colors that highlight this versatile evergreen. Start with a few pairings and see how they grow. The combinations are nearly endless, and you can always add more interest next season.