The Blue Point Juniper (Juniperus chinensis ‘Blue Point’) is an evergreen known for its conical or pyramidal shape and striking blue-green foliage. This cultivar offers year-round structure, making it a favored choice for landscape focal points and privacy screens. Achieving the plant’s intended aesthetic and maintaining its long-term health depends on providing the correct amount of space at planting. Proper spacing ensures the plant can fully develop its broad form without competition.
Calculating the Mature Spread
The mature spread, or width, is the most important factor in determining planting distance. Although the Blue Point Juniper can reach a height of 10 to 12 feet, its width dictates spacing. Under optimal conditions, this cultivar naturally spreads to 6 to 8 feet.
Spacing decisions must be based on this maximum horizontal dimension, not the size of the plant at purchase. Planting based on current size leads to overcrowding as the juniper’s slow-to-moderate growth habit fills the space. The 6- to 8-foot mature spread determines the correct distance between the center of one juniper and the center of the next.
Specific Spacing for Landscape Goals
The exact distance required between plants is determined by the desired outcome, whether that is a distinct, individual specimen or a tightly woven privacy hedge.
Individual Specimen Planting
For an individual specimen planting, the goal is to showcase the juniper’s natural conical form. A spacing of 8 to 10 feet center-to-center is recommended. This generous distance allows the plant to reach its full width while providing a buffer for air circulation and maintenance.
Privacy Hedge or Screen
When creating a dense, opaque privacy screen or hedge, the junipers must be planted close enough for their branches to knit together. A spacing of 4 to 5 feet, measured center-to-center, encourages the branches to merge into a solid wall over time. This tighter density sacrifices some lower foliage for a unified barrier.
Foundation Plantings
For foundation plantings near a house or fence, measure spacing from the structure itself, allowing for the juniper’s full mature spread. Planting the center of the juniper at least 3 to 4 feet away from any wall ensures the mature canopy will not press against the structure. This distance allows for maintenance access and prevents moisture from being trapped against building materials.
Negative Effects of Improper Density
Failing to account for the mature spread leads to problems for the junipers. When planted too closely, competition for sunlight shades out the lower branches, causing browning and dieback near the trunk. This internal browning deforms the plant, creating a hollowed-out appearance that cannot be corrected once the damage is extensive.
Overcrowding reduces air movement through the foliage, creating a highly humid microclimate ideal for fungal pathogens. The lack of air circulation contributes to the development of Phomopsis tip blight, a common juniper disease. This fungus (Phomopsis juniperovora) attacks the succulent new growth, causing the branch tips to turn yellow, then brown, and eventually die.
If junipers are planted too far apart for a screening application, the primary issue is a failure to meet the landscape goal, leaving noticeable gaps in the barrier. Conversely, planting too far away from a structure wastes valuable space in the landscape. Miscalculating the mature spread undermines the desired aesthetic and functionality of the design.