刺柏屬常綠針葉灌木或小喬木，臺灣特有種，主要生長在海拔2300~3000m的地區。植株具有多數分枝。狹線形葉3枚輪生，先端刺尖，基部有關節，長1~1.5cm，寬0.1~0.2cm，表面有2白色闊氣孔帶，裏面灰綠色。雄花橢圓形，雄蕊多數。毬果球形，徑約0.7cm；果鱗3枚，肉質，相互癒合，基部有卵形之鱗片數枚，熟時橙黃色，內含種子3粒；種皮骨質。

A Taiwanese endemic evergreen coniferous shrub or small tree in the genus Juniperus, mainly distributed in alpine areas with an altitude of 2300-3000m. Much branched. Leaves narrowly linear in a whorl of 3, apex acuminate, base with nodes 1-1.5cm long and 0.1-0.2cm wide, two white broad stomatal bands on surface and gray-green beneath. Male flowers oval, stamens numerous. Capsule spherical, about 0.7cm across; 3 fruit scales, fleshy, closely attached with each other, several ovoid scales at the base, orange-yellow when mature, containing 3 seeds; testa bony in texture.

喜冷涼氣候，全日照或半日照，耐寒、抗風、耐旱、耐貧瘠。對土壤要求不高，但以肥沃之壤土且排水良好者為佳。以種子繁殖。

The plant grows well in full sun, partial sun and cold climates, tolerant to cold, drought, wind and barren. Low demanding on soils, but fertile loam soils with good drainage are preferred. Grown from seeds

可作庭園景觀樹、盆景。材質緻密且具芳香味，可供工藝用材。木材含芳香油脂，可作為引火材料。全株可入藥。

The plant is suitable for the use as garden landscape tree and bonsais. The dense and fragrant wood is excellent material for crafting. The aromatic oils extracted from the wood can be used to produce fire ignitor. The whole plant has medicinal properties.