Western-cedar
Juniperus occidentalis
Last reviewed: September 2026
Toxicity unknown
Western-cedar (Juniperus occidentalis) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Western-cedar is listed as toxic to grazing livestock (cattle, sheep, and goats) at a slight level by the USDA PLANTS Database (opens in new tab). This is a livestock indicator and is separate from pet toxicity.
Light
full sun
Water
low
Size
300"–3000" H × 180"–1200" W
Bloom
N/A
Native to
CA, ID, NV, OR and 1 more states
Before you buy
Your city may pay you to plant this
Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.
Find rebates in your areaBrowse plants for this ecoregion
Western juniper is a large evergreen tree native to western North America that develops a distinctive twisted, gnarled trunk with age. It grows extremely slowly and can eventually reach massive proportions, making it unsuitable for most residential landscapes.
In an HOA neighborhood
Western-cedar takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Works well in: backyard only.
- Grows far too large for typical residential lots
- Extremely slow growth means decades before it looks established
- Gnarled appearance may look unkempt to some HOAs
Wildlife value
Provides nesting sites and shelter for birds, and its berries feed various wildlife species including birds and small mammals.
Common questions
- How much sun does Western-cedar need?
- Western-cedar grows best in full sun conditions.
- Where is Western-cedar native?
- Western-cedar (Juniperus occidentalis) is native to CA, ID, NV, OR and 1 more states, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
- Is Western-cedar toxic to livestock?
- Western-cedar is listed as toxic to grazing livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats (slight severity) by the USDA PLANTS Database. This is separate from pet (dog and cat) toxicity.
- Is Western-cedar HOA-friendly?
- Western-cedar takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.
Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Western-cedar? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.
Planning a bed around it? Start a free plan with this plant
Not sure where to start? Take the 2-minute yard quiz