Juniper (Juniperus communis)

Family: Cupressaceae | Edibility: Edible (2/5)

Common juniper, is a coniferous evergreen shrub or tree with the largest geographical range of any woody plant. Size is very variable from a small prostrate spreading shrub to large trees. The form Juniperus communis compress for example only grows to 0.8m. The fruit is edible used as a flavouring in sauerkraut, stuffings, vegetable pates etc, and is an essential ingredient of gin.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Fruit, Berries, Nuts/Seeds, Leaves

Harvest Seasons: Spring, Early Summer, Late Summer, Fall, Winter

Flavor & Culinary Uses

sweet, resinous flesh. — Fruit - raw or cooked.; It is usually harvested in the autumn when fully ripe and then dried for later use.; A soft, mealy, sweet, resinous flesh.; The fruit is often used as a flavouring in sauerkraut, stuffings, vegetable pates etc, and is an essential ingredient of gin.

Habitat & North American Range

Chalk downs in S. England but only where there is least sunshine and most rain, heaths, moors, pine and birch woods in the north of Scotland on acid peat, often dominant on chalk, limestone and slate. (Zone 2, Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7)