Juniperus scopulorum

Juniperus scopulorum, known as Rocky Mountain juniper, is a slow-growing, super hardy evergreen shrub or tree native to western North America growing into a pyramidal to rounded crown up to 15-20 feet tall on single or multi-stemmed, reddish-brown trunks with blue-green to silvery-blue needles and scales. Female plants will produce small, berry-like cones, known as juniper berries, ripening to a waxy dark blue to black in fall. They are a food source for wildlife from small mammals to birds. Provides good nesting and cover for birds and small mammals and is a larval host for various butterfly and other insect species. Valued for its versatility, hardiness, low maintenance needs, and striking appearance. Ideal as an ornamental for year-round structure, as a windbreak, for soil stabilization, privacy screens, coastal areas, and city gardens due to its tolerance of pollution. A great bonsai option as well. Drought, salt, deer and rabbit resistant.

?Cypress-like tree of conical habit? (Hillier) similar to but smaller than (to 40') the eastern J. virginiana; reddish-brown shredding bark and scale-like leaves varying from green to blue-green. S/M-D/GDr

The Rocky Mountain Juniper is an ideal shrub for a low hedge or border, especially in more arid climates. The tree is adaptable to a wide range of soils, but grows best in dry, sandy soils with strong drainage. This juniper gets its common name from its native Rocky Mountain region, where it can be found from Alberta down to Texas, as well as in other mountainous areas from British Columbia to the Southwest. In this native habitat, the tree is often found in rocky high altitude foothills, so it can tolerate fairly extreme climates. Typically, Rocky Mountain Juniper takes a wide pyramidal shape, has a distinctive shedding red-brown bark and has deep green needles on thin, sinewy branches. In the wild, the tree can grow up to 50 feet tall and 20 feet wide.

Found in the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains, a tall evergreen, moderately fast growing to 30-40' tall x 3-12' wide, very conical with bluish foliage that contrasts with the reddish textured bark. Very easy and tolerant in sun and well drained soil with occasional water. Dislikes wet feet. Frost hardy in USDA zone 3.