Red-cedar
Juniperus scopulorum Sarg.
Juniperus scopulorum, known as Rocky Mountain juniper, is a species of juniper native to western North America, ranging from southwest Canada to the Great Plains of the United States and parts of northern Mexico. It is the most widespread of all New World junipers. The plant typically grows as a relatively small tree or large bush and is often found in isolated groves or as individual trees, rather than as a dominant forest species. It can survive fires but is particularly vulnerable when young, which can limit its expansion into grassland areas.
Description
Juniperus scopulorum belongs to the Cupressaceae family and is part of the Juniperus genus. It is commonly referred to as Red-cedar. This species is distributed across regions including Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, and parts of Mexico. First described in 1897 by Sarg., the plant is adapted to a wide range of environments but is not typically a dominant forest tree. It is often found in isolated groups or as solitary trees. Its ability to survive fires is limited, especially during the early stages of growth, which affects its distribution in grassland ecosystems.
Other common names
Red-cedarRiver JuniperRocky Mountain JuniperRocky Mountain Red-CedarRocky Mountain red cedarwestern juniper
Distribution
Alberta · British Columbia · Saskatchewan · SE · IN · Global · NO · BR · Arizona · Colorado · Idaho · Mexico Northeast · Mexico Northwest · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Mexico · North Dakota · Oregon · South Dakota · Utah · Washington · Wyoming
Synonyms
Juniperus virginiana var. scopulorumJuniperus virginiana subsp. scopulorumJuniperus excelsaJuniperus occidentalis var. pleiospermaJuniperus scopulorum var. columnarisJuniperus scopulorum f. columnarisSabina scopulorumJuniperus maritimaJuniperus virginiana var. montanaSabina maritima