Juniper communis is a small coniferous evergreen tree which is very variable and often low spreading. It has needle- like leaves in whorls of three. The needles are green with a single white stomatal band on the inner surface. Male and female cones on separate plants. The seed cones are berry- like; green which ripen in 18 months to purple- black with a blue waxing coating. The cones are yellow, 2-3 mm long, and fall soon after shedding their pollen In March - April