this year i removed two Wichita's .... they aren't worth the treatment to sustain them ... and since the neighbor has a row or a dozen that are all infected.. there wasn't much i was going to do to save mine ... if you like it.. buy it.. and enjoy it.. and get rid of it when it starts looking like carp .... buying them small limits the investment to under 5 bucks.. if you find the right supplier ... i never heard of margarita either ... but i see paul allen mentioned it... A LOT OF THESE ARBS LOOK ALIKE ... and you can get the older varieties.. a lot cheaper than the newest best thing... my 69 dollar camera can not get me GOOD pix of them .. to share.. but look into sunkist, yellow ribbons, george washington... etc ... the yellow over green variation varies through the year ... making a trip out to look at them worthwhile all year long ... who needs a conifer that looks the same all year ... in z5 .. the white variegated plants... tend to burn on the white part.. but it returns on the new growth ... you have to have one/some ... but don't freak out every time it burns .... never forget conifers are trees.. been around for millions of years.. and basically able to fend for themselves once 'established'.. if proper for your zone ... and sometimes they are mislabeled.. live and learn ... i am surprised dax didnt mention the variegated junipers like: Juniperus scopulorum 'Sparkle' Juniperus squamata 'Star Dust' and a stunning all gold ... Juniperus virginiana 'Schotti Gold' BTW .. i would say that 50% of mine are bought.. without ever having more than a one sentence description ... or one minute glace of a fresh graft at the tree farm ... IMHO .. that is part of the fun ... the older the selection/cultivar ... the more info you MIGHT find ... finally ... join the American Conifer Society ... get the Directory ... and start looking for peeps who live near you .... they know where the sellers are ... and you might be surprised how many backyard grafters/propagators there are very close to you ... not only that.. many are willing to have you come visit.. and talk about conifers for a few hours.. and you get to see, touch and find out.. what actually grows within 100 miles of your house ... you have to get past shyness .. suck it up.. and just call a few peeps ... i never understood all that, until one day out of the blue.. someone just called and asked if i had some time to talk about conifers.. lol ... sent the rest of them to bed .. and had a great talk about conifers.. and it ends up.. he lives within 5 miles.. and has a greenhouse .... go figure.... anyway .. don't get fixated on names.. or precise specimens.. or you will pay through the nose.. for some thing that probably looks like an older cheaper variety ... though, of course, there will be the to-die-for very expensive plants you will have to have.. so buy others cheap .. so when that one comes along.. the wallet is ready .... ken

I have some wichita blues here in Ohio, and can't say i recommend them for the Midwest. They are susceptible to some sort of fungal disease or root rot, there was a thread on this some time ago. Mine have splotchy sections of brown needles. I wish i had the regular native junipers in their location (J. virginiana.) I speculate that the wichita blues do better where it is less humid.

Blue Stars are kind of finicky compared to most other Junipers, so you are not alone! You may be able to minimize problems by keeping dead foliage removed and by keeping a close check on soil moisture (mulch may help some with that, if your plants aren't currently well mulched). Blue Stars don't like dry conditions and won't survive where soil stays wet. I've seen healthy looking Blue Stars, but I've seen many more pitiful looking specimens (so, yes, they can be a constant P.I.T.B.)

I have about 15 blue star junipers spread out over a large yard. They have all been in the ground for 15 to 20 years now and are about 10' across. They have been super healthy for all these years until last year. Then they started to turn brown from the inside out. I have lost a few of them already and they are starting to look really bad this year. I tried shaking a branch for bugs but couldn't see anything. I took off all of the dead branches last year and now whatever is wrong is going crazy on them. Like I said these plants have been in great shape until recently, nothing has changed and I fear I'm going to lose all of them. I'm willing to try whatever might work, please give me some ideas as to what to try. I live in the PNW Seattle area. Thank you in advance.