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Home > Juniper > Rocky Mountain Juniper

Rocky Mountain Juniper

Rocky Mountain Juniper is a small- to medium-sized coniferous tree native to North America, growing at an elevation of about 500-2700 meters (1600-8900 ft) on dry soils usually with other juniper species. It has a wide, irregular crown and twisted trunk.

Rocky Mountain Juniper

Rocky Mountain Juniper

Rocky Mountain Juniper Tree

Rocky Mountain Juniper Tree

Rocky Mountain Juniper Pictures

Rocky Mountain Juniper Pictures

Scientific Classification

Kingdom Plantae
Division Pinophyta
Class Pinopsida
Order Pinales
Family Cupressaceae
Genus Juniperus
Scientific name Juniperus scopulorum
Wichita Blue Juniper

Wichita Blue Juniper

Cologreen Juniper

Cologreen Juniper

Rocky Mountain Juniper Leaf

Rocky Mountain Juniper Leaf

Quick Information

Other Names Mountain Red Cedar, Rocky Mountain Cedar, Cedar Tree, Juniper Bush, Savin, Evergreen, Cedar Apple
Similar to Eastern Red Cedar
Size Height ranging between 5 to 10 m (sometimes more) with trunk thickness up to 1 or 2 m and diameter up to 300 mm (rarely 600 mm)
Leaves Arranged in opposite pairs at right angles, sometimes in whorls of three; scaly adult leaves, 1-2 mm long, 1-1.5 mm broad; needle-shaped young leaves on seedlings, 5-10 mm long
Cones Seed Cones: Berry-like ball shaped and bilobed with a diameter ranging from 6-9 mm, dark blue, consists of two seeds (occasionally one or three); takes about 18 months to mature

Pollen Cones: 2-4 mm long, dioecious, pollen are shed in early spring

Tree Type Perennial, evergreen
Shape at Maturity Pyramidal, columnar
Distribution/Range Western North America, British Columbia and Alberta in Canada; east of Washington, North Dakota, western Texas, and south to Arizona  in the United States; from east of Sonora to Coahuila in northernmost Mexico
Hardiness Zones 4 to 8
Lifespan 250-300 years or more
Growth rate Usually slow-growing
Growing Conditions Water requirement: Low; can tolerate drought

Light requirement: Direct sunlight as well as partial shade

Cold exposure: Can tolerate cold; cannot adapt to high night temperature; cannot survive when exposed to temperature below -38°F

Humidity: Not tolerant of high humidity

Soil Requirement: Dry, sandy, rocky, clayey, slightly alkaline; high calcium-carbonate tolerance

Diseases/Pests It is vulnerable to attack by a complex of insects, arachnids, and nematodes; it is attacked by blights, juniper berry mites, and red spider mites; it is an alternate host for cedar apple rust
Flowering/Fruiting April, May
Seed Production Seeds are occasionally borne at 10 years of age though the optimum time for production of seeds is 50-200 years
Seed-bearing Frequency It bears seeds every year, but heavier production takes place every 2 to 5 years
Dispersal of Seeds Ripen and fall off from the tree during the second spring, dispersed by different birds and small mammals
Wildlife Value Provides nesting place, fruits, and dense cover for many wildlife species
Cultivars Many cultivars have been used in horticulture – Skyrocket, Blue Arrow, Welch Juniper, Blue Haven, Blue Trail Cologreen, Winter Blue, Pathfinder, Gray Gleam, Springbark, Platinum, Green Ice, Moonglow, Greenspice, Wichita Blue, etc
Uses Plateau Indian people made a drink from the inner barks and leaves for the treatment of coughs and fevers; the berries were used for their laxative and cold-relieving properties; the wood is used for making furniture, fence posts, interior paneling, fuel, and chests
IUCN Conservation Status Least Concern
Rocky Mountain Juniper Bark Berry

Rocky Mountain Juniper Bark Berry

Rocky Mountain Juniper Bonsai

Rocky Mountain Juniper Bonsai

Rocky Mountain Juniper Bark

Rocky Mountain Juniper Bark

Interesting Facts

  • In October 1804, the rocky mountain juniper was initially discovered by Lewis and Clark
  • In the United States, it is popularly collected for bonsai.
Rocky Mountain Juniper Images

Rocky Mountain Juniper Images

References:

  1. https://www.for.gov.bc.ca/hfd/library/documents/treebook/rockymountainjuniper.htm
  2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juniperus_scopulorum
  3. https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/fire_regimes/Northern_RM_juniper/all.html
  4. https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/tree/junsco/all.html
  5. https://plantsorig.sc.egov.usda.gov/factsheet/pdf/fs_jusc2.pdf

Published on June 23rd 2016 by admin under Juniper.
Article was last reviewed on 2nd December 2022.

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