Common Juniper

The common juniper, Juniperus communis, is a species of small tree or shrub in the cypress family, Cupressaceae, notable for having the largest geographical range of any woody plant, a holarctic distribution spanning the cool temperate Northern Hemisphere. Its blue-black, berry-like cones are the primary flavoring used to produce gin, and across its wide range the species grows in forms varying from low, sprawling shrubs to small upright trees depending on climate and exposure.