Juniperus occidentalis

Western juniper

Family: Cupressaceae · Type: tree · Native

Western juniper is a native tree found in the high Cascade Range and Mountain Provinces in dry slopes, sagebrush, and juniper woodland at elevations of 700 to 2,300 meters. Its seed cones are distinctive blue-green maturing to blue-black and resinous, borne on trees 5 to 15 meters tall with brown bark. Growing with a broadly rounded crown and multiple stems, this juniper has complex leaf arrangements with leaves growing in 4 to 6 ranked patterns. The tree's leaves are oppositely arranged, creating a dense and textured appearance across its branches. Its small pollen cones measure 2 to 3 millimeters long and appear oblong, contributing to its reproductive strategy in challenging mountain environments.

Habitat: dry slopes, flats, sagebrush, juniper woodland

Elevation: 700-2300 m

Bioregions: CaRH, MP

California counties: Lassen, San Bernardino, Nevada, Siskiyou, Tulare, Ventura, Inyo, Plumas, Tuolumne, Madera, Mono, Modoc, Mariposa, Fresno, Shasta, El Dorado, Sierra, Alpine, Amador, Humboldt, Kern, Placer, San Luis Obispo, Colusa, Trinity, Tehama, Mendocino, Lake, Los Angeles, Glenn, San Diego, Napa

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.