WSU Clark County Extension
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Rocky Mountain Juniper

Scientific name: Juniperus scopulorum
Taxonomy
Family:Cupressaceae
Type:Coniferous trees
Native:YES
Plant Requirements
Zone:3 to 9
Sun:Full sun
Plant Characteristics
Height:30 ft
Width:8 ft
Additional Characteristics
Trees


Fruit

Leaves


Bark
Wildlife value

Poisonous
Description Northwest landscapers rely on the neat and tidy upright growth of Rocky Mountain juniper for accent plantings or combine plants for use in screens. With its slightly blue cast the foliage serves as a pleasing contrast to other garden colors.

  Morphology:
This evergreen species typically grows 30’ to 40’ tall but often no wider than 5’-8’. It bears branches which ascend in a vertical fashion giving the tree an over-all columnar to pyramidal shape at maturity.

Scale-like needles are arranged oppositely and are set close to the stems. They have smooth margins. While the needles are light to dark green they can also become glaucous blue or blue-gray.

The bark on this species is typically reddish brown in color but with time can turn gray. It often exfoliates in thin strips, giving a shredding appearance.
In its native stands, small purple-blue berries form. It takes as long as 2 years for the 1/3” berries to ripen.

  Adaptation:
This species grows as native all through the inter-mountain west from British Columbia south to Texas from sea level to over 8,000 feet above sea level. It can tolerate a wide range of site and soil types, other than wet sites. It only grows in full sun and can withstand long periods of drought.

  Pests:
Most cultivars require little or no pruning and are relatively free of cultural problems, insects and diseases

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For assistance, contact Dr. Charles Brun (brunc@wsu.edu), (360) 397-6060 7713
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