{"product_id":"moffat-blue-juniper","title":"Moffat Blue Juniper","description":"\u003ch1\u003eA Dense Blue-Green Pyramid Built for Hardy Sites\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMoffat Blue Juniper (\u003cem\u003eJuniperus scopulorum\u003c\/em\u003e 'Moffettii') is a classic Rocky Mountain juniper forming a dense, broad pyramid of blue-green foliage. Reaching 15-20 feet tall and 6-8 feet wide, it offers reliable color and structure with minimal care. Like its scopulorum cousins, it is extremely cold-hardy, drought-tough, and deer-resistant.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eMoffat Blue Juniper Plant Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eAttribute\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDetail\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eJuniperus scopulorum\u003c\/em\u003e 'Moffettii'\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Names\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMoffat Blue Juniper, Moffettii Juniper\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15-20 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMature Width\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6-8 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrowth Rate\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eModerate - 9-12 inches per year\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSun\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFull sun (6+ hours)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLow once established; drought-tolerant.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUSDA Zones\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3-7 (Twin Cities is zone 4b-5a)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSoil\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAdaptable; tolerates Minnesota clay-loam.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFoliage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEvergreen - dense blue-green foliage year-round\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWinter Hardiness\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReliable to -40F.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDeer Resistance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGood - junipers are generally deer-resistant thanks to their prickly, aromatic foliage.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNative Status\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWestern North American native (Rocky Mountain juniper); 'Moffettii' is a cultivated selection\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eMoffat Blue Juniper Uses in Minnesota Landscapes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003ePrivacy Screens and Windbreaks\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt 15 to 20 feet tall and 6 to 8 feet wide, Moffat Blue makes a substantial evergreen wall. Planted 5 to 6 feet apart it forms a dense privacy screen or windbreak that holds its needles and color all winter — exactly what's needed along an exposed back property line in Woodbury, Lakeville, or Maple Grove. A 30-foot run takes about five to six plants for a solid screen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSteel-Blue Specimen and Foundation Anchor\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe crisp blue-green color sets Moffat Blue apart from the usual green evergreens, making it a natural focal point. Use a single plant to anchor a house corner, frame an entry, or punctuate a foundation bed in Edina or Wayzata. Its tidy pyramidal form needs little to no shearing to stay handsome.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTough Sites: Slopes, Boulevards, and Road Salt\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a Rocky Mountain Juniper selection, Moffat Blue is bred for hard conditions — poor soil, drought, wind, and the road salt that scorches less rugged evergreens. That makes it a reliable pick for boulevard strips, dry slopes, and exposed corner lots in Eden Prairie and Plymouth where a spruce would struggle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBest Time to Plant Moffat Blue Juniper in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs an evergreen, Moffat Blue establishes best when planted in \u003cstrong\u003elate August through mid-September\u003c\/strong\u003e. The soil is still warm enough to drive root growth, while cooler air eases transplant stress and gives the plant six to eight weeks to settle in before the ground freezes around mid-November. \u003cstrong\u003eSpring (late April through May)\u003c\/strong\u003e is the solid second choice, leaving a full season to root before the first winter. Avoid the heat of midsummer, and never plant after mid-October — evergreens set out too late are prone to winter desiccation before their roots can support them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to Plant Moffat Blue Juniper\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDig wide, not deep.\u003c\/strong\u003e Make the hole 2 to 3 times the width of the root ball but no deeper — the top of the root ball should sit slightly above grade. In heavy clay, go even wider.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCheck drainage.\u003c\/strong\u003e Fill the hole with water; if it pools for hours, you've hit clay hardpan. Break through it or mound-plant a few inches high so roots never sit in standing water.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBackfill with amended soil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Mix your native soil with 20 to 30 percent compost. Junipers prefer lean soil, so don't overdo the organic matter — just enough to loosen heavy clay.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpace for the form.\u003c\/strong\u003e Set plants 5 to 6 feet apart for a privacy screen or windbreak, or 8 feet apart as individual specimens.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBuild a water basin.\u003c\/strong\u003e Form a 3 to 4 inch soil ring around the base to channel water to the roots. Flatten it before winter so ice doesn't collect against the trunk.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMulch with bark.\u003c\/strong\u003e Spread 2 to 3 inches of shredded bark or wood chips, kept 2 inches off the trunk. Skip gravel mulch — it bakes roots and gives no winter insulation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWatering Moffat Blue Juniper in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFirst Year Watering Schedule\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeeks 1–2: Deep soak every 1 to 2 days (15–25 minutes at a slow trickle).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 1–2: Every 3 to 4 days.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMonth 3–6: Every 5 to 7 days during active growth; ease off when rain is steady.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStop watering 2 to 3 weeks before the ground freezes (late October in the metro) — but give it one last deep drink in early December if fall was dry, to guard against winter burn.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eAfter Year One\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEstablished Moffat Blue is genuinely drought-tolerant and rarely needs supplemental water. During a prolonged dry spell (two-plus weeks of no rain with heat), give it a deep soak every 10 to 14 days. Otherwise let Minnesota's rainfall do the work, and always stop watering 2 to 3 weeks before the ground freezes so the plant can harden off for winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWill Moffat Blue Juniper survive a Minnesota winter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWithout question. It's hardy to roughly -40°F (USDA zone 3), far below anything the Twin Cities' zone 4b–5a delivers. As a Rocky Mountain Juniper it's adapted to brutal high-plains winters, so it shrugs off cold, wind, and snow load with no winter wrapping needed once established.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs it deer-resistant?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — junipers are among the most reliably deer-resistant evergreens for Minnesota. Their prickly, aromatic foliage is something deer rarely browse, which makes Moffat Blue a smart screen for high-pressure western suburbs like Minnetonka, Wayzata, and Chanhassen where deer routinely strip arborvitae.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow blue does it really stay?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMoffat Blue keeps its steel blue-green tone through the seasons, and unlike some junipers it holds that color well in winter rather than fading to a muddy bronze. Color is richest in full sun; in part shade the foliage greens up and the plant grows looser.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I plant it near the road or driveway?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. As a Rocky Mountain Juniper it tolerates road salt and reflected winter wind better than most evergreens, making it dependable along boulevard strips and driveway edges where de-icing salt would scorch a spruce or arborvitae.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eYou May Also Like\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMoonglow Juniper\u003c\/strong\u003e — a fuller silvery-blue upright juniper with the same Rocky Mountain toughness and bolder color.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMedora Juniper\u003c\/strong\u003e — a very narrow, slow-growing columnar juniper for tight vertical accents.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlue Point Juniper\u003c\/strong\u003e — a dense, compact blue-green pyramid that needs little pruning.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEmerald Feather Juniper\u003c\/strong\u003e — a narrow, bright green native red cedar for slim screening spots.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- tt-enriched --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow Many Moffat Blue Junipers Do I Need?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor a privacy screen or windbreak, space Moffat Blue 5–6 feet apart on center so the 6–8 foot pyramids grow into a solid wall:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScreen Length\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlants Needed (5.5-ft spacing)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e15 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5–6 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e50 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e9–10 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e100 feet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e18–19 plants\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a specimen or corner anchor, one plant does the job — give it 8 feet of clearance from walls and walks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eMoffat Blue Juniper Season-by-Season in Minnesota\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring:\u003c\/strong\u003e New blue-green growth extends the dense pyramid; no shearing required to keep its tidy shape.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSummer:\u003c\/strong\u003e A full steel-blue cone that thrives through heat and drought on the leanest soils, with color richest in full sun.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFall:\u003c\/strong\u003e Holds its blue-green tone while deciduous neighbors drop, becoming one of the strongest structural elements in the yard.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e Keeps true blue-green color all winter — no bronzing — while shrugging off -40°F cold, wind, snow load, and road salt.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAt a Glance\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e✔ Deer-Resistant   ✔ Salt-Tolerant   ✔ Drought-Tolerant   ✔ Evergreen   ✔ Four-Season Interest\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant It With\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/moonglow-juniper\"\u003eMoonglow Juniper\u003c\/a\u003e — a bolder silvery-blue upright to vary the tones in a long screen.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/medora-juniper\"\u003eMedora Juniper\u003c\/a\u003e — a very narrow column for the tight spots where Moffat Blue is too wide.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/blue-point-juniper\"\u003eBlue Point Juniper\u003c\/a\u003e — a dense, compact blue-green pyramid for mid-height structure.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/emerald-feather-juniper\"\u003eEmerald Feather Juniper\u003c\/a\u003e — a bright-green native red cedar to contrast against the blues.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eIs Moffat Blue Juniper Right for Your Yard?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChoose Moffat Blue if you have a full-sun site and want a tough, colorful screen or specimen that handles drought, deer, road salt, and -40°F winters with almost zero maintenance. It's not a fit for shady spots — the foliage greens up and grows loose without 6+ hours of sun — or for low spots where water stands.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Three Timbers Minnesota","offers":[{"title":"#15 \/ 3' B\u0026B","offer_id":54281866969393,"sku":"GT-E0900","price":205.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0986\/0694\/0465\/files\/moffat-blue-juniper.jpg?v=1779469308","url":"https:\/\/threetimbersmn.com\/products\/moffat-blue-juniper","provider":"Three Timbers Minnesota","version":"1.0","type":"link"}