Rocky Mountain Juniper Juniperus scopulorum
Previously known as:
- Juniperus scopulorum var. columnaris
- Juniperus virginiana ssp. scopulorum
- Juniperus virginiana var. montana
- Juniperus virginiana var. scopulorum
- Sabina scopulorum
- Phonetic Spelling
- jew-NIP-er-us skop-yew-LOR-um
- Description
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Rocky Mountain Juniper is a native evergreen needled tree in the cypress family. It is found in the western USA and Canada. It is found in mixed or pure stands of open woodland areas in Wyoming and Colorado at elevations of up to 7500 feet, often on dry and rocky edges. It is slightly pyramidal to rounded in form and grows 30-40 feet tall. The mature foliage is scale-like and the seed cones are waxy blue and berry-like that the birds will eat.
It is adaptable to various soil types on the dry side but doesn't do well in humidity and high nighttime temperatures. It could possibly adapt to our NC mountains. It is closely related to the Eastern Red Cedar, which is better able to handle hot, humid weather.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: It is susceptible to juniper blight and cedar apple rust.
VIDEO created by Ryan Contreras for “Landscape Plant Materials I: Deciduous Hardwoods and Conifers or Landscape Plant Materials II: Spring Flowering Trees and Shrubs” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Horticulture at Oregon State University
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Blue Arrow'
Narrow growth habit
'Blue Heaven"
Light blue conical bush 'Pathfinder'
Bluish gray foliage in flat sprays 'Table Top'
Flat-topped, silvery-blue color shrub - 'Blue Arrow'
- 'Blue Arrow', 'Blue Heaven", 'Pathfinder', 'Table Top'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Blue Arrow'
Narrow growth habit
'Blue Heaven"
Light blue conical bush 'Pathfinder'
Bluish gray foliage in flat sprays 'Table Top'
Flat-topped, silvery-blue color shrub - 'Blue Arrow'
- 'Blue Arrow', 'Blue Heaven", 'Pathfinder', 'Table Top'
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Juniperus
- Species:
- scopulorum
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The aromatic wood is used for cedar chests and for lumber, fence posts, and fuel.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Western Canada, western USA to Northern Mexico
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds eat the cones. It provides nesting sites and cover. Host plant to the olive butterfly. Deer resistant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 30 ft. 0 in. - 40 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Pyramidal
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- 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
- NC Region:
- Mountains
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4b, 4a, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7b, 7a
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Fruit:
- Fruit Description:
- The seed cones are round, berry-like and waxy dark blue
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Adult foliage is scale-like and varies in color from dark- to bluish- or light-green
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Design Feature:
- Shade Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
