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Juniperus scopulorum
Juniperus scopulorum Sarg.
Rocky Mountain Juniper, Rocky Mountain Red Cedar, Mountain Red Cedar, Colorado Red Cedar, Western Red Cedar, River Juniper, Western Juniper, Cedro Rojo
Cupressaceae (Cypress Family)
Synonym(s): Juniperus scopulorum var. columnaris, Juniperus virginiana ssp. scopulorum, Juniperus virginiana var. montana, Juniperus virginiana var. scopulorum, Sabina scopulorum
USDA Symbol: JUSC2
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)
A columnar to somewhat rounded evergreen tree, Rocky Mountain Juniper often supports several main stems. The juvenile foliage consists of pointed, white-coated needles. Adult, scale-like foliage varies in color from dark- to bluish- or light-green. Round, dark-blue, berry-like cones, covered with a whitish bloom, ripen in the second year. Mature size is from 30-40 ft., or more, high with a spread of 3-15 ft. Bark is reddish-brown or gray and shedding.
A graceful ornamental, often with narrow crown of drooping foliage, several varieties differ in form and in leaf color. The aromatic wood is especially suited for cedar chests and is also used for lumber, fenceposts, and fuel. Wildlife eat the "berries". This species is closely related to Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana L.), which has dark green foliage and "berries" that mature in one year.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Tree
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Cone
Size Notes: Up to about 65 feet tall, often much shorter.
Leaf: Green
Fruit: Seed cones blue. Though technically incorrect, the seed cones are often referred to as berries.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: YellowBloom Time: Apr , May
Distribution
USA: AZ , CO , ID , MT , ND , NE , NM , NV , OK , OR , SD , TX , UT , WA , WYCanada: AB , BC
Native Distribution: B.C. to AZ and Sonora, e. to ND, w. TX, and Coahuila
Native Habitat: Rocky or sandy hillsides; mountains
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Drought Tolerance: High
Cold Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Dry, rocky or sandy soils. Rocky Caliche type Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay.
Conditions Comments: Rocky Mountain juniper is slow-growing. It tolerates drought and salt spray but does not adapt to high humidity or high night temperatures. It is susceptible to juniper blight and serves as an alternate host for cedar apple rust.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: AttractiveUse Wildlife: Provides nesting site, cover, seeds for small mammals. Also attracts Cedar Waxwings, Northern Mockingbird, Evening Grosbeak as well as other species.
Attracts: Birds , Butterflies
Larval Host: Olive butterfly
Propagation
Description: Generally, nodal cuttings should be taken after several hard freezes although references point to any time from July to April. Hormone treatment improves rooting. Propagation is also possible by seed but is less reliable.Seed Collection: Collect ripened fruits in fall or winter, clean by maceration, dry seeds, and store in sealed, refrigerated containers.
Seed Treatment: Warm stratification at 60 degrees for 45-90 days, followed by cold stratification will hasten germination.
Commercially Avail: yes
Find Seed or Plants
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.
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From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
Bibliography
Bibref 298 - Field Guide to Texas Trees (1999) Simpson, B.J.Bibref 355 - Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest (1991) Miller, G. O.
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender
Search More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 3 - Flora of North America (2014) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Additional resources
USDA: Find Juniperus scopulorum in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Juniperus scopulorum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Juniperus scopulorum
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-03-23Research By: TWC Staff