In areas where it competes with common haircap moss it may reach 4 ″ (10 cm). In a rock crevice it may be just ⅜ ″ (1 cm) tall.

It is highly variable in size but usually 1 9⁄ 16 ″ to 2 ″ (4 to 5 cm) tall. It rises on multiple aerial stems from a horizontal underground stem (rhizome). It grows in tufts and has an upright growth habit (acrocarp). Juniper haircap moss is a fairly robust, perennial, evergreen, moss. It grows under full sun to light shade, in dry conditions, on acidic, gravelly or sandy soil, or on thin soil over rock. It sometimes colonizes forest openings following a fire or a blowdown. It is found in a wide variety of habitats, including upland open woodlands, savannas, sand prairies, roadsides, trail sides, rocky ledges, and creek banks. state except Texas, Louisiana, and Florida.

In North America it has been recorded in every Canadian province and in every U.S. Juniper haircap moss is a common and widespread moss with a worldwide distribution, occurring on every continent including Antarctica.

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