Juniperus communis var. depressa
Depressed juniper, Depressed Juniper
(c) Andrew Bazdyrev, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Andrew Bazdyrev · licence
Family: Cupressaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Juniperus communis var. depressa (Depressed juniper) is a native California shrub in the Cupressaceae family.
Depressed juniper is a native shrub found in the Sierra Nevada Mountains on rocky soil, slopes, and summits at elevations below 2,800 meters. This conifer produces distinctive blue-green berries that serve as seed cones 6 to 9 millimeters long. Growing low and occasionally spreading, it forms compact shrubs with dense branches. Its needle-like leaves feature a glaucous stomatal band approximately one to one and a half times wider than the green leaf margin, creating a distinctive bluish-green appearance. The plant produces three seeds per cone, adapting well to challenging high-elevation mountain environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; leaf length and seed count are key differentiators
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky soil, slopes, summits
Elevation: < 2800 m
California counties: Mono, Tuolumne
Outside California: +- to Alaska, northeastern North America.
How to tell it apart
vs Hesperocyparis: Juniper has fleshy berry-like cones; Hesperocyparis has woody round cones with shield-shaped scales.; vs Pinus: Juniper needles are single or in whorls of 3; pine needles come bundled in groups of 2-5 with papery sheaths.; vs Calocedrus: Juniper has berry-like cones; Calocedrus has elongated woody cones with flattened, scale-like sprays.; vs Cupressus: Juniper has berry-like cones; Cupressus has round woody cones with shield-shaped scales.; vs Salvia: Juniper is woody with evergreen needles or scales; Salvia is herbaceous with opposite aromatic leaves and lipped flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Juniperus communis var. depressa native to California?
Yes. Juniperus communis var. depressa is native to California (recorded as native).
Where in California does Juniperus communis var. depressa grow?
Juniperus communis var. depressa occurs in Mono, Tuolumne, at elevations of < 2800 m.
What plant family does Juniperus communis var. depressa belong to?
Juniperus communis var. depressa is in the Cupressaceae family, genus Juniperus.
What habitat does Juniperus communis var. depressa grow in?
Juniperus communis var. depressa grows in Rocky soil, slopes, summits.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.