Juniperus communis var. saxatilis
Mountain juniper, Mountain Juniper
(c) Ayotte, Gilles, 1948-, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Cupressaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Juniperus communis var. saxatilis (Mountain juniper) is a native California shrub in the Cupressaceae family.
Mountain juniper is a native shrub found in the Klamath Ranges, Sierra Nevada Mountains, and Warner Mountains in rocky areas at elevations of 600 to 2,400 meters. Unlike typical upright junipers, this variety spreads in a distinctive mat-like form, occasionally growing more erect. Its needle-like leaves are blue-green with a distinctive glaucous stomatal band that is twice as wide as the green leaf margin, typically 5 to 10 millimeters long. The shrub forms spheric seed cones containing 1 to 3 seeds, creating a compact and resilient growth pattern. Its spreading, often prostrate habit makes it well-adapted to challenging rocky mountain environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 5 sympatric species; growth form and leaf type are primary differentiators
Habitat and range
Habitat: Rocky areas
Elevation: 600-2400 m
Outside California: to Yukon Territory, Europe, Asia
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. saxatilis native to California?
Yes. Juniperus communis var. saxatilis is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Juniperus communis var. saxatilis belong to?
Juniperus communis var. saxatilis is in the Cupressaceae family, genus Juniperus.
What habitat does Juniperus communis var. saxatilis grow in?
Juniperus communis var. saxatilis grows in Rocky areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-01
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.