Common juniper Juniperus communis
Common juniper (Juniperus communis) is an evergreen perennial shrub in the Cupressaceae family, native to Circumpolar: Europe, Asia and North America. It grows 1–4 m (3.3–13 ft) tall and 1–3 m (3.3–10 ft) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -45 °C (-49 °F). Space plants about 1.5 m (4.9 ft) apart.
Plan Common juniper in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Common juniper at a glance
| Type | Perennial shrub, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Cupressaceae |
| Mature height | 1–4 m (3.3–13 ft) |
| Mature spread | 1–3 m (3.3–10 ft) |
| Spacing | 1.5 m (4.9 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Low; drought tolerance high, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 4.5–8 |
| Cold hardiness | About -45 °C (-49 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 2) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 30 °C (86 °F) |
| Flowering | from about April for 2–4 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | High |
| Pollinator value | None |
| Edible | Yes: dried cones (berries) as a spice, in small amounts |
| Native to | Circumpolar: Europe, Asia and North America |
| Common in gardens of | 🇳🇴 Norway, 🇷🇺 Russia, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
Is Common juniper toxic?
- People: mildly toxic
- Cats: mildly toxic
- Dogs: mildly toxic
- Parts: berries, foliage
Berries are a flavouring in small amounts; large amounts irritate the kidneys and stomach, and pets may get stomach upset.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Common juniper
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.
Keep apart or take care
- caution With Rowan: Gymnosporangium rust fungi spend part of their life on common juniper and part on rowan and related Sorbus; both being nearby sustains the cycle. Evidence B
- caution With Common hawthorn: Hawthorn and common juniper are alternate hosts of a Gymnosporangium rust (hawthorn-juniper rust), so keeping them apart reduces infection pressure. Evidence B
Shared pests and diseases
- Cedar-apple rust: The rust needs both a juniper and an apple-family host; spores travel hundreds of metres. Evidence B
See Common juniper in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden (3 plants)
- Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden (2 plants)
- Denver Botanic Gardens (6 plants)
- New York Botanical Garden (3 plants)
- Jardin botanique de Montréal (6 plants)
- Kew: glasshouses and rock garden (2 plants)
Questions about Common juniper
- How far apart should I plant Common juniper?
- About 1.5 m (4.9 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 1–3 m (3.3–10 ft).
- Does Common juniper need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Common juniper need?
- Low water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Common juniper?
- It tolerates about -45 °C (-49 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 2.
- When does Common juniper flower?
- From about April for 2–4 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Common juniper poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is mildly toxic; for dogs mildly toxic; for people mildly toxic. Berries are a flavouring in small amounts; large amounts irritate the kidneys and stomach, and pets may get stomach upset.
- What grows well with Common juniper?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Common juniper. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, Missouri Botanical Garden
Notes and assumptions
- Habit varies from prostrate to upright columnar by subspecies and cultivar; sharp-needled and dioecious, so only females bear berries.
- Berries take 2-3 years to ripen. Host of juniper-rowan and juniper-hawthorn rusts.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Creeping juniper Juniperus horizontalis
- Leyland cypress x Cuprocyparis leylandii
- Hinoki cypress Chamaecyparis obtusa
- Dawn redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides
- Bald cypress Taxodium distichum
- Eastern red cedar Juniperus virginiana
- Northern white cedar (arborvitae) Thuja occidentalis
- Coast redwood Sequoia sempervirens