| Latin (group) name: Juniperus |
| Latin (specific) name: Juniperus Scopulorum (Sargent) |
| Average max height: 25' to 40' |
| Average diameter: 18" |
| Associated state: none |
| Category: American Woods The Softwoods - Conifers |
The Tree
The Rocky Mountain Juniper grows more or less irregularly 25 to 40 feet high with short trunks up to 18 inches in diameter, When no suppressed or exposed on rocky mountain sides, the tree grows straight, similar to Eastern Redcedar or so called Tennessee Redcedar. The foliage is a pale gray-green color, and the bark is somewhat stringy and a cinnamon-brown to grayish color. The berries are nearly round, one-quarter to one-third inch in diameter, blue but covered with a whitish bloom.
Common Names in Use
- Rocky Mountain Juniper (Mont.)
- Cedar (Colo.)
- Colorado Juniper (lit)
- Juniper (Idaho)
- Red Cedar (Wash,Utah)
- Rocky Mountain Red Cedar (Wash, Colo., Utah)
- Western Juniper (trade)
Growth Range
This tree is found throughout the higher elevations, Alberta and South Dakota to New Mexico, and from British Columbia south through Washington, Oregon and Nevada to Arizona.
The Wood
The heartwood of Rocky Mountain Juniper is a beautiful tan to a bright rose-red, sometimes lightly streaked with narrow purple markings. The sapwood is comparatively thick and a creamy-white color. The wood has a pleasing aromatic odor, is fine-grained, durable, soft and easy to work, and takes a smooth finish. It is a delightful wood to handle in the workshop.
Uses
Because of the sparse and scattered supply of this wood, it has found no commercial use except locally for fence posts. It is suitable for lead pencils, cedar chests, closet linings and other uses similar to those of Eastern Redcedar. The beautiful color and texture of Rocky Mountain Juniper is such as to warrant far more extensive use in novelties.
File References
| ID | Name | Size | Last modified | Last modified by | Actions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 411 | Juniperas Scopulorum Sargent A hardy tree growing on the rim at Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah [C. J. Earle, 2015.11.20]. Reference: Juniperus Scopulorum (Rocky Mountain Juniper) Description. https://www.conifers.org/cu/Juniperus_scopulorum.php. Accessed 14 May 2019. Source: https://www.conifers.org/cu/ju/s/scopulorum03.jpg |
261.54 KB | 05-13-2019 | ||||
| 412 | Rocky Mountain Juniper-Range Map Natural distribution map for Juniperus scopulorum (Rocky Mountain juniper) Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Juniperus_scopulorum_range_map_4.png Attribution: Elbert L. Little, Jr., of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service [Public domain] |
204.51 KB | 05-15-2019 | ||||
| 413 | Rocky Mountain Juniper Foliage Cones and foliage; also at Bryce Canyon [C. J. Earle, 2015.11.21]. Reference: Juniperus Scopulorum (Rocky Mountain Juniper) Description. https://www.conifers.org/cu/Juniperus_scopulorum.php. Accessed 14 May 2019. Source: https://www.conifers.org/cu/ju/s/scopulorum09.jpg |
162.47 KB | 05-13-2019 | ||||
| 414 | Rocky Mountain Juniper Pollen Cones Pollen cones, very nearly ripe; also at Bryce Canyon [C. J. Earle, 2016.05.05]. Reference: Juniperus Scopulorum (Rocky Mountain Juniper) Description. https://www.conifers.org/cu/Juniperus_scopulorum.php. Accessed 14 May 2019. Source: https://www.conifers.org/cu/ju/s/scopulorum10.jpg |
188.06 KB | 05-13-2019 | ||||
| 416 | Rocky Mountain Juniper Logs Reference: “Rocky Mountain Juniper, Utah Juniper, and Western Juniper (Sometimes Referred to as Desert Cedars).” Michael Keller Woodcarving, 12 Oct. 2010, https://whiteeaglestudios.wordpress.com/2010/10/12/rocky-mountain-juniper-utah-juniper-and-western-junipers-sometimes-referred-to-as-desert-cedars-a-carver%e2%80%99s-delight/. Source: https://whiteeaglestudios.wordpress.com/2010/10/12/rocky-mountain-juniper-utah-juniper-and-western-junipers-sometimes-referred-to-as-desert-cedars-a-carver%E2%80%99s-delight/ |
642.61 KB | 05-13-2019 |