Succeeds in most soils if they are well drained, preferring a neutral or slightly alkaline soil and succeeding on chalk. Established plants are drought tolerant, succeeding in hot dry positions. They are also fairly wind-resistant. A very ornamental and hardy plant. It is very slow growing and apparently short-lived in Britain, though it is very long-lived in its native environment. Another report says that plants live to a moderate age of 200 - 350 years in the wild. Cultivated as a timber tree in some parts of C. and S. Europe and used as a Christmas tree in parts of N. America, there are some named forms, selected for their ornamental value. Closely related to J. scopulorum, it hybridizes with that species where their ranges overlap. The main difference between the two species is that the fruits of this plant mature in one year whilst those of J. scopulorum take two years. This species often hybridizes with other members of the genus. The crushed foliage has an aroma like soap or paint. Plants are resistant to honey fungus. In America this tree is a host of a gall-like rust that at certain stages in its life-cycle also attacks the leaves of apple trees. Plants are usually dioecious, though trees with both male and female flowers are occasionally found. Male and female plants must usually be grown if seed is required.

Fruit - raw or cooked. A sweetish resinous flesh. They can be crushed and used as a flavoring in soups and stews. The cones are about 5mm in diameter. About 10mm according to another report. A tea is made from the fruit. It is not very nice. It is made from the young branchlets and the fruit according to one report.

The seed requires a period of cold stratification. The seed has a hard seedcoat and can be very slow to germinate, requiring a cold period followed by a warm period and then another cold spell, each of 2 - 3 months duration. Soaking the seed for 3 - 6 seconds in boiling water may speed up the germination process. The seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Some might germinate in the following spring, though most will take another year. Another possibility is to harvest the seed 'green' (when the embryo has fully formed but before the seedcoat has hardened). The seedlings can be potted up into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Grow on in pots until large enough, then plant out in early summer. When stored dry, the seed can remain viable for several years. Cuttings of mature wood, 5 - 10cm with a heel, September/October in a cold frame. Plant out in the following autumn. Layering in September/October. Takes 12 months.

Dry, rarely wet, open woods and rock slopes, often on limestone. Infertile soils and old pastures.