Wacholder vs Red-cedar

Juniperus communis compared with Juniperus scopulorum

Key Differences

• Wacholder is Vulnerable while Red-cedar is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Wacholder	Red-cedar
Kingdom same	Plantae (Pflanzen)	Plantae (Pflanzen)
Phylum same	Coniferophyta (Conifers)	Coniferophyta (Conifers)
Class same	Pinopsida (Conifers)	Pinopsida (Conifers)
Order same	Pinales (Koniferen)	Pinales (Koniferen)
Family same	Cupressaceae	Cupressaceae
Genus same	Juniperus	Juniperus
Species	Juniperus communis	Juniperus scopulorum

Evolutionary Relationship

Wacholder and Red-cedar share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Juniperus.

Conservation Status

Wacholder

VU — Vulnerable

Red-cedar

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Wacholder	Red-cedar
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Wacholder

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, temperate grasslands and steppes, and flooded grasslands and savannas, among 6 distinct biome types spanning the Neotropic and Palearctic realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Libya), Europe (6 countries), North America (United States), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia), and South America (Argentina, Brazil). Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Red-cedar

Habitat

Typically found in temperate and boreal forests, often at higher elevations.

Range

Distributed across Brazil, Canada, India, Norway, and Sweden.

Wacholder

Common Juniper (<em>Juniperus communis</em>) is a coniferous shrub or small tree in the family Cupressaceae and one of the most widely distributed woody plants in the Northern Hemisphere. It is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, indicating population declines driven by habitat loss, overgrazing, and changes in land management. The species has a remarkably broad native range spanning Africa (Libya), Europe (six countries), North America (United States), Oceania (Australia), and South America (Argentina and Brazil). It typically inhabits six distinct biome types and occurs within both the Neotropic and Palearctic biogeographic realms. Common Juniper grows in heathlands, rocky slopes, calcareous grasslands, open woodlands, and alpine environments, often colonizing nutrient-poor soils where competition from other plants is limited. Its berries are widely used as a flavoring for gin and in traditional cuisine. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇧🇷 Brazil 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden