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Plants that fill a similar niche:
Salvia rosmarinus Rosmarinus officinalis
x Hesperotropsis leylandii × Cupressocyparis leylandii
Cedrus deodara 'Devinely Blue' Cedrus deodara 'Devinely Blue'

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

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. Could possibly adapt to our NC mountains. It is closely related to the Eastern Redcedar which is better able to handle hot humid weather.

It is susceptible to juniper blight and cedar apple rust.

 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Blue Arrow', 'Blue Heaven", 'Pathfinder', 'Table Top'
Tags:
#evergreen#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#cones#needled evergreen#deer resistant#dry soils tolerant
 
Form
Form USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database CC0 1.0
Fruit
Fruit Thayne Tuason CC BY-SA 4.0
Stems and leaves
Stems and leaves Stan Shebs CC BY-SA 3.0
Leaf closeup
Leaf closeup Stan Shebs CC BY-SA 3.0
Bark
Bark Stan Shebs CC BY-SA 3.0
Juniperus scopulorum
'Admiral' Fruit and Leaves Jim Robbins CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
'Blue Arrow', 'Blue Heaven", 'Pathfinder', 'Table Top'
Tags:
#evergreen#full sun tolerant#drought tolerant#cones#needled evergreen#deer resistant#dry soils tolerant
  • 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.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Tree
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Pyramidal
    Rounded
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Texture:
    Medium
  • 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
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Description:
    The seed cones are round, berry-like and waxy dark blue
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Blue
  • 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
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Lawn
    Design Feature:
    Shade Tree
    Attracts:
    Butterflies
    Songbirds
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Deer