It is native to central and northern Mexico (from Oaxaca northward) and the extreme southwest of Texas, United States (Brewster County).

It grows at moderate altitudes of 800–2,600 metres (2,600–8,500 feet), on dry soils.

The shoots are strongly pendulous, 1–1.2 mm diameter, and often borne in flattened sprays (the only juniper commonly showing this character).

The juvenile leaves (on young seedlings only) are needle-like, 5–10 mm long.

The male cones are 3–5 mm long, and shed their pollen in spring.