Colorado Red Cedar
Juniperus scopulorum (ju-NIP-er-us skop-u-LO-rum)
Rocky Mountain Juniper is a native slow-growing, conifer, evergreen needled tree in the Cupressaceae or cypress family. It is narrow, pyramidal to rounded in form and grows 30-40 feet tall. It has shedding reddish-brown bark and has bluish-silvery to dark green scale-like foliage that lies flat against the branches. The seed cones are waxy blue, and berry-like which are a source of food for birds and small mammals. Rocky Mountain juniper is one of thirteen junipers that are native to North America. It is found in the western United States and Canada. The tree can be found in drier mountains and foothills of British Columbia and Alberta, the Rocky Mountains to Arizona, New Mexico, and western Texas. It is also 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 ridges. The genus name, Juniperus , is derived from the Latin word for juniper. The epithet, scopulorum, is from the Latin word that translates "of the cliffs or rock' and refers to the species mountainous habitat. The Rocky Mountain Juniper prefers full sun, moist, well-drained soils and especially does well in dry, sandy soil. It is drought, salt spray, erosion, dry soil, and air pollution tolerant. The tree will adapt to various soil types that may be on the dry side. It cannot tolerate wet soils, high humidity, nor high night temperatures. They are also intolerant to ice. The Rocky Mountain Juniper is very susceptible to injury or death from fires due to it thin, stringy bark and the volatile oils contained in the branches. It is possible the Rocky Mountain Juniper could be attempted in the mountains of North Carolina. It may be best to consider the closely related to the Eastern Red Cedar for use in the landscape, which is better able to handle the hot, humid weather of North Carolina. Quick ID Hints: bark is reddish-brown or gray, exfoliates in thin strips. small branchlets are smooth, but larger branchlets exfoliate in plates. adult foliage is opposite, simple scale-like and varies in color from bluish-silvery or light to dark green juvenile foliage is more needle-like male and female flowers on separate plants, female flowers are greenish-yellow and have two ovules, male flowers are yellow with six stamens and appear on short branchlets. the fruit is a round, immature berry is green and glaucous, ripens to a bluish-purple with a white, waxy bloom. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Rocky Mountain Juniper has no serious diseases or insect pests. In rainy or wet springs, they may be susceptible to blights which causes the dieback of the stem tips. Phomopsis twig blight may occur as well as Cedar-apple rust and other rust diseases. In poorly drained soils, root rot can occur. Aphids, bagworms, twig borers, webworms, scale, and spider mites are potential insect pests. In the wild, animals just the tree as a rubbing post and causes damage to the stems and roots. The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common juniper diseases and insect pests. 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 More information on Juniperus .
Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 62 attributes.