Gold Star Juniper has attractive chartreuse-tipped bluish-green foliage which emerges yellow in spring. The leaves are highly ornamental and remain bluish-green throughout the winter. The harvest gold stems can be quite attractive. This shrub prefers full sun in medium moisture well-drained soils. At 4 feet maximum height, it has a compact habit. This plant is resistant to root rot and moderately salt tolerant; it is particularly resistant to damage by deer. Details of Juniperus chinensis follow, many of which apply to Gold Star. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: See potential insect problems of conifers fact sheet to the left The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common juniper diseases and insect pests. More information on Juniperus chinensis .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Fills a similar nicheJuniperus chinensis 'Angelica Blue'Juniperus chinensis 'Old Gold'Juniperus chinensis 'Sea Green'
Full plant profile
Growing Conditions
Plant type
Shrub
Life cycle
Woody
USDA zones
4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Arching; Dense; Spreading
Texture
Fine
Leaf color
Blue; Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Needles
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf feel
Prickly; Soft
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Chartreuse-tipped bluish-green foliage which emerges yellow in spring. The leaves are highly ornamental and remain bluish-green throughout the winter.
Flower detail
No flowers, but cones are large and brown and fall apart upon maturity. Female cones are blue, fleshy "berry" looking.
Fruit detail
No true fruits, but female cones are blue, fleshy "berry" looking and edible, often used as a seasoning.