Juniperus scopulorum
The fantastic , leisurely Rocky Mountain juniper is a North American aboriginal that ’s used to spruce up courtly gardens and born space likewise .
Birds love it , it can thrive in hard - to - fill spots , and it adds twelvemonth - round color and grain to the garden .
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Now , I might be a bit biased . I was raised in the Rockies and more than once I laid out under the Dominicus and inhaled the gin- and true cedar - like perfume of these trees .
Every time I catch the aroma of a cultivated juniper , I ’m brought back to those work-shy summer days in the heap . I ’m certain you ’ll get it on it too .
On top of their down in the mouth - care demeanor , they ’re also just downright well - looking , especially some of the stunning cultivars that have been breed over the years .
So , I think they ’re pretty hard to circumvent . If you ’re on the fencing , my end is to have you sear their congratulations by the meter you reach the end of this template .
To make that happen , here ’s what we ’ll tattle about :
What You’ll Learn
The Rocky Mountains are home to some pretty broken landscapes and many of the works there had to adapt to survive . These juniper figured out how to prosper even when the environmental consideration got tough .
What Is Rocky Mountain Juniper?
There are 13 aboriginal juniper species in the US , andJuniperus scopulorumhas become a popular option in home gardens across North America .
It ’s also know as the Western reddish cedar , despite the fact that it ’s not a cedar ( Cedrusspp . ) or arborvitae , which are plants in theThujagenus that we often call cedar tree .
Also bonk as river Retama raetam , cedro rojo , and sabino , it ’s the most widely distributed of the North American aboriginal raetam .
It has a succinct , vertical , slightly columniform maturation drug abuse , though cultivated varieties can vary in appearance from those with mound earth - creep riding habit to erect crying types .
The evergreen plant needles are pointy and gray when they ’re young , enshroud in a white software . As they grow , the needles become dark blue to light green with ordered series - similar layer . The bark is gray or reddish - dark-brown and peels aside from the trunk .
Rocky Mountain juniper bush is dioecious , and it develop lone saturnine downcast cones – which we usually call berries – that ripen in their 2nd class , when they formulate a white bloom that consists of wild yeast .
Each cone cell hold one to three seeds , and it can take plants 10 years or more to start produce these .
Animals love the berries , and robins , Republic of Turkey , cedar tree waxwings , and jays all feast on them . Elk , cervid , sheep , and antelope eat the acerate leaf , but only if nothing tasty is around .
Depending on the cultivar , these plants can grow up to 40 foot tall and 15 feet blanket . These are long - inhabit tree diagram that have been known to pull round for up to 2,000 years .
Often mazed with its secretive congenator the easterly violent true cedar ( J. virginiana ) with which it cross readily , you could tell the two apart because the Eastern red cedar has darker green leafage and the cone mature in just one twelvemonth , while junipers take two to three years to mature .
Once again , Eastern violent cedars are n’t link to true cedar tree or arborvitae .
Scopulorummeans “ of the raft , ” a good reading of where this plant life thrives . The Rocky Mountain juniper ’s native reach stretch , as you ’d expect , throughout the Rocky Mountains from Mexico north through the Canadian range , and from the western deserts to the Great Plains .
It ’s not that this metal money can only thrive in a mountainous spot with a fabulous position . The grounds it grows where it does and across such a broad area is because the dame coinage that make the Rockies their home have deal the seeds across this area .
This various subsister lives in a huge range of elevations as well , from sea stratum all the room to 9,000 human foot in dry climate . In the wild , you ’ll unremarkably find these plant in shelter areas on bumpy cliffs and four flush .
Extremely drouth tolerant compared to most Tree , it ’s only passably drought tolerant for a raetam species native to the westerly US .
It does n’t do well in humid , hot areas like the southern US and coastal California . Just about anywhere else in USDA Hardiness geographical zone 3 to 9 is desirable for maturate this species .
Cultivation and History
aboriginal Indigenous universe made effective use ofJ. scopulorum . They ate the berries and used them for medicine .
The bark was made into instrument and piece of furniture such as cradle , and the wood was used for firing fuel . They also used the needle as medicine and burned the needles and Ellen Price Wood during ceremonial .
Do n’t eat too many all at once , though . Blackfoot people used the berries to have vomiting . On the other remainder of things , the Crow used it to bring around diarrhea .
The Cheyenne burn down the leaf to cure a fearfulness of roar and made an infusion out of the cones and boughs to treat coldness and coughs . The wood was consider to have special properties and if you made a flute out of it , you could charm someone into fall in love with you .
Kutenai , Navajo , Sioux , and Thompson the great unwashed also favored this industrial plant for its cold-blooded - easing abilities , and nearly all of the westerly kindred used it in the house in some strain for discourage cuss and spirit , for cosmopolitan cleaning , or for keep disease at bay .
Propagation
you may originate many types of juniper through air layering , but the Rocky Mountain species does n’t disperse well using this method . Instead , take cutting or transplant nursery startle into the garden .
Some cultivars can only be propagate by root cutting or planting greenhouse start because they do n’t produce cone shape , or the seeds are sterile .
From Cuttings
raetam disseminate well from cuttings and it ’s a true method to reproduce a plant that you particularly love , which will be a clon of the parent .
The process involves taking a fore cutting that is about nine inches or so long with the diameter of a pencil and placing it in a container fulfil with an appropriate potting culture medium .
You ’ll keep that moist until the root begin to form and then you’re able to put it out in the garden .
For a full runnel - down on the outgrowth , you canfind more info in our comprehensive juniper turn template .
Transplanting
I ’m assuming your soil does n’t drain dreadfully . With good drainage , you’re able to pretty much dig a yap the size of the growing container and thrash this plant into it , and that ’s it .
If you want to do it right , though , dig out a mess twice as wide as the nursery pot and off the plant from the pot .
mildly loosen the roots and localise it in the gob . fulfil in around the plant with a half - and - half mixture of the original dirt and well - molder compost . Water well .
How to Grow
I ca n’t emphasise strongly enough how significant it is to pick out the right spot for these plants . That ’s good advice generally , but I take you ’re interested in develop this type of Retama raetam because they ’re hardy and pretty much maintenance - innocent .
These trees have shallow roots – they evolved to grow in bouldered areas where their roots ca n’t penetrate deep .
Feel free to use them in rock garden , but do n’t put them somewhere with intemperate earth and poor drainage . You ’ll stamp out a Rocky Mountain Genista raetam quicker that way than anything else .
Some gardeners make the mistake of placing these plant in partial shade , and young works are utterly happy there . But as they mature , they need full sun .
If you plant your juniper bush in part shade , this will increase the risk of disease and it will become leggy with sparse ontogeny .
That ’s not to say these industrial plant are prone to disease or to rot . It ’s just deserving emphasizing that if you want to enjoy all the nifty things these plant life have to offer in terms of hardiness , health , and coming into court , you need to plant them in the right bit .
Once there , your problem is to keep young plant watered until they become established . This typically occupy a twelvemonth or two . Be trusted to bring home the bacon consistent moisture in the absence of pelting .
Junipers do n’t need a lot of weewee once they ’re establish , but they do need to be hold back middling damp when they ’re vernal .
Give your plant life urine when the top in of soil has dry out . Once it ’s establish , the top two or three inches can dry out between lachrymation . That might think of you never have to supply water if you live somewhere that receives rainfall on a regular basis .
Add some wood mulch around the pedestal of the plants to aid retain moisture and keep weeds forth . you may also expend well - molder compost , which has the added benefit of providing nutrient .
Growing Tips
Pruning and Maintenance
If I was n’t cleared about it already , I do it raetam . But I do n’t love junipers that have been shear within an in of their life or trimmed back to bare forest to try and pressure them into a daub where they do n’t belong .
If you pick out the right cultivar for your location and you engraft it in the right place , you wo n’t have to do much trimming . Really , the only ground to break in out the pruner is to move out dead or diseased Grant Wood , or if a arm break or sticks out at a funny angle .
Honestly , if you screw pruning , there are lots of trees out there that will give you the opportunity . Try aboxwoodor a laurel wreath .
Retama raetam are for those who do n’t want to niggle with frequent or intense clipping , though some cultivars are suited to use as topiary .
hear more about lop junipers in our guide .
On that note , if you find the cognitive process of fertilizing your plant meditative , you ’ll need to focus on other species for that as well . Junipers rarely , if ever , require eating .
If yours is growing in a container , you could go in advance and feed it once every two years – though you wo n’t need to provide plant food at all if you repot or change out the stain periodically .
Down to Earth All Purpose Fertilizer
A balmy , balanced fertilizer is all you want . I have it away Down to Earth ’s All - Purpose Mix , which you could pick upat Arbico Organicsin one- , five- , and 15 - pound sign compostable container , but you could choose your favorite .
For tall , thin cultivar , you might need to wrap the tree in gunny or use twine to keep the branches dependable during grievous blizzard . Otherwise , you might acknowledge a few broken branches after big snow .
Cultivars to Select
There are two innate variations of Rocky Mountain juniper bush that have been learn so far . These are the columnarJ. scopulorumvar.columnaris , and the mounded shrub known asJ. scopulorumvar.patens .
Both of these , as well as the specie works , have been used as parent to create some beautiful cultivar . Let ’s take a facial expression at a few .
Blue Creeper
‘ Monam ’ is an highly popular choice and it could n’t possibly attend more different from the original plant .
Instead of a marvelous , pyramidal shape , this plant is a low - grow creeper that spreads about eight human foot panoptic and acquire just two substructure high-pitched in zona 3 and up .
The foliage is distinctly and unmistakably blue .
Medora
‘ Medora ’ has a endearing columnar shape naturally , but if you ’re attend for a dreamy topiary , this is an excellent pick .
The leafage is dense and upright , with a green - blue chromaticity . This works grows to 10 foot tall and just two or three feet broad . produce it in zone 3 to 9 .
Moonglow
‘ Moonglow ’ is an super popular choice , in part because of its silvery grim foliation that glows like moonlight . It also maintains a dumb , beautifully - form development habit without pruning . This cultivar reaches 15 ft tall and six feet wide at maturity .
This predominate garden accent has a Pyramids of Egypt shape , and it ’s good to go in Zones 3 to 8 . It ’s also known for being especially tolerant to pest and disease .
‘ Moonglow ’
you’re able to – and should ! – pick up one of these if you ’re concerned in a tolerate - out Rocky Mountain juniper . channelise to Fast Growing Treesfor a one- to two- , three- to four- , four- to five- , or five- to six - foot tree .
Skyrocket
If I had to count , I ’d guess you ’ve seen one of these before in a garden somewhere .
They ’re incredibly popular and you see them all over in home garden and commercial-grade spaces alike . They have a decided growth habit , staying just three or four feet wide but stretching up to 20 invertebrate foot tall .
No doubt that ’s why they make a beautiful focal point , seclusion CRT screen , or container specimen . ‘ Skyrocket ’ is so narrow-minded that it can squeeze into petite unornamented spots , but it ’s substantial enough that it can make a statement all on its own .
‘ Skyrocket ’
Zip on overto Home Depotto snap up a alive plant in a 2.25 - gal sess , suitable for growing in Zones 3 to 9 .
Wichita Blue
With a all-inclusive , pyramidal form that reach 15 feet tall and five metrical foot wide , ‘ Wichita Blue ’ is a stately choice that has a distinctly siverly - blasphemous hue .
It stands out from the rest of the verdure in the yard and offers up yr - bout pastime in Zones 3 to 9 .
‘ Wichita Blue ’
snaffle a Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in a gallon - size poton Amazonif you ’re looking for something that wreak a unique element to the pace .
Managing Pests and Disease
Rocky mountain raetam are subject to the common pests and diseases that trouble all plant in theJuniperusgenus . Here are the dirt ball and diseases that seem to trouble this metal money , in peculiar .
Pests
Mites are by far the most likely plague you ’ll black market into .
There are several metal money of spider tinge that fertilise onJuniperus scopulorum . Spruce wanderer hint ( Oligonychus ununguis ) are the most plebeian .
Spruce mites are too small to see with the naked eye , so observe for yellow or yellow speckling on the needles . The phonograph needle may eventually become brown and fall off when industrial plant are infested .
These pest in particular love cool weather and they can vote down works in a class or so if you do n’t intervene .
Trim off any impact branches and then spray the plant with a strong bam of urine . Spray again every few days . This should be done in the first light so the plant can dry in the sun . Keep at it for a few weeks or until symptoms begin to resolve .
Disease
jumpy mountain junipers are hosts for cedar apple rust , due to the fungusGymnosporangium juniperi - virginianae . Learn more about this disease inour comprehensive guide . Blight is another disease to watch for .
Cercospora Blight
The fungusCercospora sequoiaevar.junipericauses a disease known as Cercospora blight .
You ’ll typically see symptom on the young , interior leaves at the bottom of the works first before it spread up to the old and exterior leaves . The leaf turn browned and dry .
Prune infect branches . If you caught the disease too soon , you might be on top of things . But if you do n’t catch it early enough , you ’ll need to change state to fungicide .
Bonide Liquid Copper Fungicide
you’re able to pick up some Bonide fluent copper fungicideat Arbico Organicsin 32 - ounce quick - to - use atomiser , 16- or 32 - Panthera uncia hose terminate bottle , or 16 - ounce concentrate .
Best Uses
A better doubtfulness here is whatcan’tyou use Rocky Mountain junipers for ? !
They make an excellent privacy blind , hedge , or specimen . Use them in buffer strips or as abonsai . Plant them in container or determine them into the consummate spot as a drought - patient of ground cover .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
Head to the Rockies for a Versatile Shrub
“ gentle to care for ” is Rocky Mountain juniper ’s midway name .
So long as you put it in the right place , it will reward you with class - round color and grain without having to worry much about lachrymation , feeding , or pruning .
Plus , there are so many different cultivars that you have lots of choice to select from .
Thejuniper world is huge with so much to know . If you ’re interested in get out more , check out these guide next :
© involve the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more detail . Cartesian product photograph via Arbico Organics , Fast Growing Trees , Florida Foliage , and Home Depot . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
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Kristine Lofgren
