Der Wacholder ist ein Baum oder Strauch von bis zu 10 m Höhe. Die immergrünen Blätter sind nadelförmig. Die Scheinbeeren benötigen für die Reife 2 – 3 Jahre, so dass sich an dem Baum reife (dunkelblaue) und unreife (grüne) Früchte gleichzeitig finden. Die Heilwirkung des Wacholders reicht von der Förderung der Verdauung über die Harnorgane bis zum Atmungsapparat und Infektionskrankheiten. It is a shrub or small tree, very variable and often a low spreading shrub, but occasionally reaching 10 m tall. Common Juniper has needle-like leaves in whorls of three; the leaves are green, with a single white stomatal band on the inner surface. It is dioecious, with male and female cones on separate plants, which are wind pollinated. The seed cones are berry-like, green ripening in 18 months to purple-black with a blue waxy coating. Its astringent blue-black seed cones, commonly known as "juniper berries", are too bitter to eat raw and are usually sold dried and used to flavour meats, sauces, and stuffings. They are generally crushed before use to release their flavour. The cones are used to flavour gin. Juniper berries have long been used as medicine by many cultures.Juniper berries have long been used as medicine by many cultures.
