The California Juniper is a low open, bushy, broad round-topped shrub or tree 15 to 30 feet tall with a short, thick thrunk 10 to 24 inches in diameter and deeply infolded or fluted. It is a shaggy looking tree, generally with greatly distorted heavy branches.The foliage is cedar-like; bristly, scaly, rigid and sharp-pointed, and a pale yellowish-green color. The juniper berries, which likewise mature in the second year, are a light-reddish-brown covered by a bluish-white bloom, larger than those of most of the other junipers. The skin of the berry is loose, exceedingly thin, smooth and papery-like. The berry has a dry, mealy, sweet, somewhat fibrous pulp. This species is found in much lower altitudes than is generally the case with the juniper family.

California Juniper Foliage

California Juniper growing in the desert

• California Juniper (Calif., lit.)
• Cedar (Calif.)
• Juniper (Calif.)
• Sweet-berried Cedar
• Sweet-fruited Juniper (Calif.)
• White Cedar (Calif)

The wood of this juniper is difficult to distinguish from its close relative, the Western Juniper. It is very fine-grained, uniform in texture, soft and brittle, splits easily and is a pale yellowish-brown tinged with red. The color is very distinct from that of other junipers, and it has only a slight aromatic odor. It works up beautifully and takes a fine finish of any kind.

This wood is excellent for lead pencils but only small quantities are used for this purpose because of the relatively small portion of the trunk and large limbs that may be utilized. It is included in our list of woods for the home workshop because of its unique coloring, fine texture and excellent workability. Considerable quantities of this wood maybe obtained, and thus it is well recommended for experimentation by the home craftsman.

• Shelley E. Schoonover (American Woods) 1951 (Watling & Co. ) Santa Monica, CA