Plant · GBIF taxon 2684709
common juniper
Juniperus communisAlso known as Ground Juniper, Dwarf Juniper, Mountain Juniper
Spanning wind-swept tundras, rocky limestone cliffs, and dense boreal forests, common juniper holds the broadest natural distribution of any woody plant on Earth. Stiff, prickly needles grow in characteristic whorls of three, each marked by a distinct white band along the upper surface. Female plants produce fleshy, berry-like cones that take up to three years to mature from green to deep, frosty blue, providing crucial cold-season nourishment for wildlife.
EvergreenConiferHolarctic
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Sunlight
- Water
- Soil Minerals
Predators
- Deer
- Juniper Bark Beetle
- Mice
ThreatsOvergrazing, invasive pests, fungal rust pathogens
HabitatsBoreal forests, heathlands, rocky slopes, moorlands, tundra
Life span100 - 2,000+ years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyCupressaceae
- SpeciesJuniperus communis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Wild berries have toxic look-alikes; never eat based on app identification alone. Wind-borne pollen can cause allergic reactions.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains volatile terpenes and thujone that cause stomach upset and renal irritation in high amounts.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognized by needle-like leaves in whorls of three and aromatic blue female seed cones.
- What to do
- Wear gloves when handling or pruning branches to protect against sharp needle pricks.
Responsible observation
- Identification: Look for sharp needles in whorls of three with a broad white stripe on the inner face.
- Observing Cones: Search female bushes in late autumn to spot green young cones alongside ripe blue ones.
Seed Disperser (c) Christian Back, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Christian Back · cc-by
Herbivore 
Close Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by Evan Barker · cc0
Close Relative (c) John Powers, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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