There are many drought tolerant native and non-native plants, especially groundcovers, available to fill this need. Included in this group is shore juniper, an evergreen, coniferous, horizontally spreading groundcover.
Shore junipers possess needle-like leaves in whorls of three with white bands on the upper surface.
It is characterized by its blue-green needle color and height of no more than one foot. Planted as a border plant, on embankments, or in planters where it develops a graceful drooping habit, its branches can spread up to six feet. A salt tolerant plant, it makes a wonderful addition to seaside plantings. Blue Pacific shore juniper grows best when planted in full to filtered sun in well drained soil. It cannot withstand poorly drained soil and, in those conditions or heavy shade, can succumb to root rots and phomopsis blight.