Savin juniper

Mongolians use the smoke of juniper twigs, called arts, to cleanse gers, ovoo and Buddhist temples – they believe it purifies from all evil.

A creeping or spreading coniferous shrub, usually 1–2 m tall, forming dense, wide-spreading carpets on rocks and stony slopes. It has tiny, scale-like, closely pressed leaves, and needle-like ones on young shoots as well. Crushed twigs give off a strong, unpleasant smell from their toxic essential oils. The fruits are bluish-black berry-like cones with a whitish bloom. The species is poisonous and resistant to drought and frost, and its creeping stems protect slopes from erosion.

Significance in the country

Arts – dried juniper twigs, mainly of this species – is Mongolia’s most important incense: it is burned during rituals at ovoo stone cairns, in Buddhist monasteries and in homes. Arts smoke is believed to purify people, animals and objects, so bundles of twigs are sold at every market.

Where it grows

Grows on rocky slopes and in the forest-steppe of the Khangai, Khentii and Mongolian Altai mountains – from Khövsgöl and Arkhangai provinces to Bayan-Ölgii and Govi-Altai.

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