'Compressa' is a dwarf, dense, erect, cone-shaped shrub with branches that are narrowly upright. Its silvery-blue foliage can be somewhat prickly. This dense evergreen will mature to a height of 2-6' and a narrow spread of 1-1.5'. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Juniper blight can be a major issue. Cedar apple rust and wilt are less serious. Mites, borers, scale, and bagworms are some insects that may affect the health of this plant. See the "Pests 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 communis var. communis .
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.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry | Very Dry
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Columnar; Dense; Erect
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Needled Evergreen
Leaf color
Blue; Green
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The leaves grow in whorls of 3. In the fall they have a copper color.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower form
Insignificant
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
As a conifer, there are not true flowers. But there are small yellow blooms which are not significant in appearance, and on female plants they are followed by 1/2" seed cones.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Black; Blue; Green
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
< 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Although there are no true fruits, female plants will produce 1/2" green seed cones which are "berry looking" (juniper berries). These will ripen to a dark-blue/black color. and are edible.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Red/Burgundy
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit
Harvest time
Fall
Edibility
The fruit is edible.
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Small Space
Landscape theme
Drought Tolerant Garden; Edible Garden
Design feature
Small Tree
Garden tags
#evergreen #deer resistant #heat tolerant #rocky soils tolerant #air pollution tolerant #dry soils tolerant #drought tolerant #native perennial #native tree #native shrub #native edible #disease resistant #food source fall #edible fruits #low maintenance #small tree #dwarf #blue green needles #fall color orange #windbreak #pest resistant #erosion control #food source winter