Juniperus recurva is a large shrub or tree reaching 6–20 metres (20–66 feet) tall (rarely 25 m), with a trunk up to 2 m (6+1⁄2 ft) in diameter and a broadly conical to rounded or irregular crown.

The leaves are needle-like, 5–10 millimetres (3⁄16–3⁄8 inch) long, arranged in six ranks in alternating whorls of three.

The male cones are 3–4 mm long, and shed their pollen in early spring.

It is largely monoecious with pollen and seed cones produced on the same plants.

There are two varieties, treated as distinct species by some botanists: Juniperus recurva is planted as an ornamental tree in western Europe, valued for its drooping foliage, particularly pendulous in the cultivar 'Castlewellan'.