Common Juniper

Juniperus communis

Pollinator Value

🐛 Larval Host: Callophrys gryneus, Orgyia leucostigma, Thera juniperata, Patalene olyzonaria, Callophrys niphon, Digrammia continuata, Thera contractata, Eilema bicolor, Eupithecia interruptofasciata
S13+S15 9 verified Eastern NA
❄️ Winter Food Source: Persistent berry-like seed cones provide winter food for American Robin, Spruce Grouse, Swainson's Thrush, and Northern Wheatear. Cones take 2-3 years to ripen on the plant and remain available through winter; the dense evergreen foliage also provides thermal cover for overwintering birds.
S57 4 bird species; S10 berry-like seed cones persistent; S11 Fruit/Seed Persistence=Yes

Proximity Score: 0
Native Status: ✅ Outaouais ✅ Ottawa ✅ QC ❌ ON
Closest Direction: Local
CEC Eco-Regions: 5 – Northern Forests, 5.2 – Mixed Wood Shield, 5.2.3 – Algonquin/Southern Laurentians
Rarity Notes: Globally secure (G5) and nationally secure (N5) across Canada. Ranked S5 in Ontario and SNR in Quebec. Not listed under SARA or COSEWIC. Abundant across boreal and northern-temperate regions with the widest native range of any conifer worldwide.
S22 G5, N5; S26 not SARA listed; S61 most extensive range of any conifer
Rarity Ranks: QC SNR – Not Ranked, ON S5 – Secure
Migration: Stable
Ecological Context: A widespread boreal and northern-temperate shrub found on rocky slopes, sandy bluffs, alvars, pastures, and open woodlands from the Canadian Shield to limestone plains. In the Outaouais it occurs on open grassy rocky slopes and alvar edges over calcareous bedrock, as well as in white spruce and cedar fringes in Gatineau Park. Tolerates poor soils and extreme cold but is shade-intolerant in the long term and typically occupies early- to mid-successional openings.
S63 Gatineau Park; S48 specimens from Aylmer alvar and Gatineau; S10 sandy bluffs, pastures; S7 dunes, rock outcrops, old fields

Roles: Fortress/Barrier
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fortress/Barrier: S61 keyword match: spines? (supporting signal only)]
Notes: Juniper functions as a pest confuser through its strong aromatic volatile oils, provides dense evergreen shelter for wildlife, and can serve as a windbreak or erosion-control planting due to its spreading root system. Its juglone tolerance makes it useful near black walnut. The dense, spiny foliage deters browsing and creates protected microsites for bird nesting.
S29 pest confuser, wildlife shelter, windbreak, erosion control; S3 juglone tolerant; S11 Palatable Browse=Low

Category: Antiseptic, Diuretic, Carminative, Analgesic, Diaphoretic, Rubefacient, Stomachic, Respiratory Aid, Febrifuge
S29 medicinal properties; S28 Moerman drug categories; S36 Health Canada approved herbal substance
Notes: Extensively used by Indigenous peoples across North America. The Algonquin used the plant for cold conditions. The Cheyenne employed infusions of boughs and cones for fevers, coughs, sore throats, and as a sedative. Cree peoples used bark poultices on wounds and decoctions for diarrhea. The Blackfoot treated lung and venereal diseases with berry decoctions. Recognized by Health Canada as an approved herbal substance (essential oil from fruit). Moerman documents 56 medicinal and drug uses across multiple nations.
S28 56 uses across Algonquin, Cheyenne, Cree, Blackfoot, Bella Coola, etc.; S36 Health Canada approved; S29 antiseptic, diuretic, carminative

✅ Edible

Foraging Notes: Berry-like seed cones (technically fleshy female strobili) are the traditional flavouring for gin and are used as a spice for meats, sauerkraut, and vegetable pates. Roasted seeds serve as a coffee substitute. A tea can be made from young twigs or crushed berries. The Anticosti people fermented fruits with branches and yeast into a beverage. Caution: large doses of the fruit can cause renal damage and should not be consumed by pregnant women.
S29 edible uses; S28 Anticosti Food/Beverage; S4 edible berries; S29 known hazards