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Juniperus californica  Carrière
California juniper
© 2019 Patrick Furtado
© 2017 Gary McDonald
© 2014 Ron Vanderhoff
© 2020 Nathan Andersen
© 2023 Richard Spjut
© 2023 Ryan O'Dell
© 2017 Angelique Herman
© 2025 Alaine Arslan
© 2020 R.A. Chasey
© 2020 R.A. Chasey
© 2023 Julia Markey
© 2023 Julia Markey
© 2023 Richard Spjut
© 2018 Gary McDonald
© 2024 Alaine Arslan
© 2024 Julie A. Kierstead
© 2024 Julie A. Kierstead
© 2024 Olesya Konovalova
© 2024 Olesya Konovalova
© 2024 Saskia Raether
© 2024 Ryan O'Dell
Juniperus californica is a shrub that is native to California, and found only slightly beyond California borders.
Siskiyou Del Norte Modoc Humboldt Shasta Lassen Trinity Plumas Tehama Butte Mendocino Glenn Sierra Yuba Lake Nevada Colusa Placer Sutter El Dorado Yolo Alpine Napa Sonoma Sacramento Mono Amador Solano Calaveras Tuolumne San Joaquin Marin Contra Costa Alameda Santa Cruz Mariposa Madera San Francisco San Mateo Merced Fresno Stanislaus Santa Clara Inyo San Benito Tulare Kings Monterey San Bernardino San Luis Obispo Kern Santa Barbara Ventura Los Angeles Riverside Orange San Diego Imperial
Genus: Juniperus
Family: Cupressaceae  
Category: gymnosperm  
PLANTS group:Gymnosperm
Jepson eFlora section: gymnosperm

Toxicity: Do not eat any part of this plant.

Habitat: slopes

Communities: Foothill Woodland, Pinyon-Juniper Woodland, Joshua Tree Woodland

Name Status:
Accepted by JEF + PLANTS + POWO

Alternate Names:
PLANTSJuniperus cedrosiana
PLANTSJuniperus cerrosianus
PLANTSJuniperus pyriformis
PLANTSSabina californica
Information about  Juniperus californica from other sources
Nursery availability from CNPLX
This plant is available commercially.
Jepson eFlora

USDA PLANTS Profile (JUCA7)

Photos on Calflora

Photos on CalPhotos

Google Images

Photos on iNaturalist

ID Tips on PlantID.net

[Wikipedia] Ecology: J. californica provides food and shelter for a variety of native species, such as turkeys, deer, and many others. However, as the species matures, it becomes too tall to provide adequate food and shelter for deer and other ground animals of similar size.[12] is a larval host for the native moth sequoia sphinx (Sphinx sequoiae). (link added by Mary Ann Machi)


Suggested Citation
Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals. [web application]. 2025. The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization]. Available: https://www.calflora.org/   (Accessed: 03/28/2025).