Juniperus communis

Overview

Kew accepts Juniperus communis in Cupressaceae, with a native range across subarctic and temperate parts of the Northern Hemisphere that includes Greece. Its 1753 publication in Species Plantarum marks naming history, not the lineage's evolutionary beginning.

Forms range from low shrubs to upright trees. Needles occur in threes with a pale upper band. Most plants have separate sexes; fleshy purple-black seed cones ripen in their second or third year. These are cones, not flowering-plant berries.

Birds and other animals disperse seeds. This light-demanding conifer tolerates cold and drought and favours freely draining, rocky ground. Its variation complicates subspecies boundaries.

Origins & earliest records

Formally published by Linnaean authority in Species Plantarum (1753), p. 1040, per Kew. No evolutionary origin date is established here.

Evidence & interpretation

Kew naming and distribution; European Atlas morphology and ecology.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

1. 01

   Species Plantarum

   · 1753

   Selected bibliography; original place of publication (p. 1040) as recorded by Kew.

2. 02

   Juniperus communis in Europe: distribution, habitat, usage and threats

   · n.d.

   Selected bibliography; European Atlas of Forest Tree Species account.

Family, evolution & connections

Taxonomic classification

A hierarchy of classified groups, not a chain of direct ancestors.

Source note: Family placement follows Kew. Subspecies boundaries are debated and are not listed.

1. FamilyCupressaceae
2. SpeciesJuniperus communis

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

1. Taxonomic databaseJuniperus communis L. | Plants of the World OnlineResearch access: 2026-10-07
2. Reference atlasJuniperus communis in Europe: distribution, habitat, usage and threatsResearch access: 2026-10-07

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.