Return to Native Trees of the Southern Rocky Mountains

The Rocky Mountain juniper is the common juniper of the Rocky Mountains, with a range from British Columbia to Texas. It is found throughout Wyoming, Colorado, and northern New Mexico, except in the very lowest and driest elevations. In Colorado it is found above 5000 feet on the eastern slope, and is widespread in the western part of the state, and on valleys and hillsides in the mountains. It is the only juniper of the eastern foothills north of Colorado Springs. It is found throughout the northern two-thirds of New Mexico. This is the tallest juniper in Colorado. In the western part of the state it may be mixed with the Utah juniper, and with Pinyon pine and Gambel oak, throughout the foothills and lower Montane. It also grows in wetter sites and at higher elevations than the other juniper trees, reaching 8500 feet above sea level.

The young juniper has a regular conical form with a pointed top, but becomes broad and irregular with age. The tree rarely exceeds thirty to forty feet high, though it may pass 50 feet in locations with abundant moisture. Where deer are common the lower branches of juniper may be severely cropped back, leaving a browse line with little foliage below. In dry locations the trees are only about 15 feet tall. Usually it has a single trunk but occasionally has several equal-sized branches starting from just above the ground, especially in dry ground. Twigs are thinner than on other junipers; only about 1/32 inch in contrast to 1/16 inch.

The wood is used for a posts, due to its durability and decay resistance, and for variety of small items, due to its color and fragrance. The fruit is eaten by birds, and the foliage is browsed by bighorn sheep, deer, elk, and pronghorn.

The scientific name is Sabina scopulorum (until very recently Juniperus scopulorum ), meaning juniper of the rocks. It is often called Rocky Mountain red cedar.

Bark

The bark is thin and fibrous, pale reddish-brown underneath and changing to a very pale faded gray on the surface. The outer layer of bark is broken into thin scales, in small squares or long strips and ridges.

Berries

The berries are about 1/4 inch across, with a pale blue waxy coating. You can easily rub the coating off, leaving a green berry. The berries are juicy and hold two seeds, or sometimes one or three seeds, and the seeds are hard and bony. The berries mature after two years.

Needles

Leaves are tiny points or scales about 1/8 inch long; blue-green, silvery or grayish green, yellowish green, or pale to dark green, or even rusty.