Common Juniper, Erect Juniper, Juniper berry
Juniperus communis

Family: Cupressaceae

What it is like

A small evergreen shrub to a large spreading tree. It grows 0.6-7.5 m high and reaches 0.9-6 m wide. It can be trunkless. It has many long branches near the ground. The leaves are glossy and needle-like. They have an aroma. They are 12-20 mm long. They are mid-green or yellow-green with a yellow underside. They are jointed at the base and with a sharp tip and arranged in rings of 3. The fruit are rounded and fleshy. They are green but ripen black or dark purple with a waxy bloom. There are small, yellow male cones and blue-black female cones. These are on separate plants.

There are 50 to 60 Juniperus species. They have health benefits.

Where it is found

A temperate plant. It is frost hardy. It grows on alpine slopes. It will grow on chalk soils and also on acid soils. It grows between 2,400-3,500 m altitude in the southern USA. It suits hardiness zones 2-8. Arboretum Tasmania.

Countries/locations it is found in

Alaska, Albania, Andorra, Arctic, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Belarus, Bosnia, Britain, Canada, Czech Republic, Estonia, Europe, Faroe Islands, Finland, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Kurdistan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mediterranean, Middle East, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand, North America, Norway, Poland, Russia, Scandinavia, SE Asia, Sicily, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, USA

How it is used for food

CAUTION: The berries are edible in small quantities but are harmful in large amounts. They are used as a flavouring for example in gin. The berries and dried and the oil distilled off. The berries are dried then cooked with food to add flavour. They are used to flavour meat. They are also made into a conserves, jams and drinks. Roasted berries are used as a coffee substitute.

About 200 tons are harvested each year in central Europe. They are also eaten raw by children as snacks.

Edible parts

Fruit, herb, spice, branch - tea

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. The cones need 18 months of cold weather before seed will grow.

Trees are very slow growing. The berries are harvested by hand and air dried.

Its other names

Local names

Aaraar, Abhal, Aglis, Ardic, Betar, Borsika, Borsukafenyo, Chichia, Chui, Delinia, Dellinje, Dhup, Dzenievre, Einer, Enebro, Genevre, Genievre, Ginebre, Ginepro, Ginevro, Hab-ul-aaraar, Haubera, Haulber, Havusha, Hosha, Jadlovec, Jalovec, Jenever, Jhora, Kadakas, Mozhzhevel'nik, Paeglis, Pama, Petthri, Shur, Vapusha, Veres, Wacholder, Zinepro

Synonyms

Many