Evergreen shrub or small tree to 6 m (20 ft) tall with usually a single trunk to 15 cm (6 in) in diameter. Crown usually pointed and dense. Bark thin, reddish brown, fibrous and stringy. Twigs thin, gray-brown, rough. Leaves opposite in four rows on the twigs, scalelike, about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) long, gray-green, sharp pointed. On vigorous shoots, the leaves are up to 6 mm long. Cones glaucous, blue, berrylike, about 6 mm (0.25 in) in diameter.
Distribution: Native to the Rocky Mountain region from Canada to Mexico.
Habitat: Rocky slopes and foothills.
NWI status: none
Comment: Juniperus is the ancient classical name for the old-world junipers; scopulorum refers to its usual habitat of rocky cliffs and crags.
Distribution in Oklahoma: 
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Last update: 9/14/99
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