The California juniper is a woody tree/shrub native to western and southern desert mountains in California, Baja California, Arizona, and Nevada. It typically grows 10-15 feet tall and 10-20 feet wide, with scale-like aromatic foliage. The species is dioecious, with female plants producing small green berries that turn red-brown when mature and contain 1-2 large seeds. It is a hardy, drought-tolerant plant suitable for erosion control, hedges, or as a small tree, providing habitat for birds. Propagation is from seed requiring cold treatment or from cuttings.