Rocky Mountain Red Cedar, Mountain Red Cedar, Colorado Red Cedar, Western Red Cedar, River Juniper, Western Juniper, Cedro Rojo
Family:
Cupressaceae (Cypress Family)
Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map
Chihuahuan Deserts, High Plains, Southwestern Tablelands
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands, Chihuahuan Montane Woodlands, Low Mountains and Bajadas, Stockton Plateau
Canadian/Cimarron Breaks
Plant Characteristics
Growth Form
Tree
Height
30
to
40
ft.
Spread
30
to
15
ft.
Leaf Retention
Evergreen
Lifespan
Perennial
Habitat and Care Requirements
Soil Type(s)
Sand, Loam, Clay, Rocky, Caliche, Brackish
Light Requirement
Sun, Part Shade
Water Requirement
Low
Native Habitat
Grassland, Woodland
Bloom and Attraction
Bloom Color
Yellow
Bloom Season
Spring
Seasonal Interest
Berry, Seeds, Larval Host
Wildlife Benefit
Butterflies, Birds, Small Mammals
Maintenance
It is susceptible to juniper blight and serves as an alternate host for cedar apple rust. It tolerates drought and salt spray, but does not adapt to high humidity or high night temperatures. Propagation: Stem cuttings, Seed.
Comments
Rocky Mountain juniper is slow-growing and long lived. It has a short trunk and has many branches with drooping foliage, The young foliage consists of pointed, white-coated needles. Mature trees have scale-like foliage that 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. The aromatic bark is reddish-brown or gray and shedding. This species is closely related to Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana L.). Larval Host: Olive butterfly
Previous Scientific Name(s): Synonym/s: Juniperus scopulorum var. columnaris, Juniperus virginiana ssp. scopulorum, Juniperus virginiana var. montana, Juniperus virginiana var. scopulorum, Sabina scopulorum
References
1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=JUSC2. 3) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Juniperus+scopulorum&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 4) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=8224&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 5) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg 316. 6) Miller George O., Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas 2nd ed, pg 48. 7) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=194872#null
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