A type of evergreen conifer belonging to the genus Juniperus in the cypress family (Cupressaceae). Junipers are found across the Northern Hemisphere and range from low-growing shrubs to tall trees. They are characterized by needle-like or scale-like leaves and berry-like cones, commonly called juniper berries, which are used for flavoring foods and spirits such as gin. Junipers are valued for their hardiness, aromatic wood, and use in landscaping, traditional medicine, and ecology.
