Juniperus sp.
Juniper, Juniper
Family: Cupressaceae · Type: Shrub · Variable; species dependent
Juniperus sp. (Juniper) is a non-native California shrub in the Cupressaceae family.
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 sp. native to California?
No. Juniperus sp. is not native to California (recorded as variable; species dependent).
What plant family does Juniperus sp. belong to?
Juniperus sp. is in the Cupressaceae family, genus Juniperus.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Juniperus californica — California juniper
- Juniperus communis — Common juniper
- Juniperus communis var. depressa — Depressed juniper
- Juniperus communis var. jackii — Jack's juniper
- Juniperus communis var. saxatilis — Mountain juniper
- Juniperus grandis — Sierra juniper
- Sequoia sempervirens — Coast redwood
- Sequoia sp. — Redwood
- Sequoiadendron giganteum — Giant sequoia
- Sequoiadendron sp. — Giant sequoia
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.