Summary
Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is long-lived coniferous evergreen and one of the first tree species to populate abandoned fields. Generally growing 30’-60’, they vary in habit from columnar to broadly pyramidal. Their thin bark exfoliates in narrow, longitudinal strips giving the trunk a reddish-brown coloration. Mature trees can have fluted or folded trunks adding to the tree’s character.
Foliage color can range from green to gray-green or blue-green, and is scale-like with pointed ends, which gives the plant an overall spiny texture. Eastern red cedar tolerates shade when young but performs best in full sun in well-drained, loamy soil. This tree is adaptable to a wide range of soil conditions from acid to alkaline and rocky or gravelly conditions and has excellent drought tolerance once established.
Eastern red cedar is an easy-care tree deserving of greater use in the larger home landscape. It is ideal as a specimen tree, for naturalizing in a meadow garden, for screening, as a windbreak, or for a wildlife garden. The tree provides food and shelter for a variety of game and songbirds, notably the Cedar Waxwing, and fruit is enjoyed by small mammals. The fruits are commonly called juniper berries, but they are actually small, fleshy, female cones. They are blue-black with a waxy coating, ¼” wide, and ripen in autumn. If planting for wildlife, you will need to select a female plant as this species is typically dioecious (separate male and female plants). Shorter growing varieties can be used in a mixed border design and combined with Atlantic ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius), and the red cedar’s evergreen foliage is a lovely backdrop for the fruit display of American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana). Zones 3-9.
More Details
- Plant Type
tree - Sun/Shade Conditions
full-sun - Foliage Character
evergreen - Soil Moisture
dry-to-moist - Soil PH
adaptable - Summer Foliage Color
dark-green - Fall Foliage Color
dark-green - Other Common Names
Eastern Redcedar, Virginia Juniper, Red Juniper, Pencil Cedar, Carolina Cedar, Red Savin - Fruit/Seed Color
blue
Additional Information
Missouri Botanical Garden, Illinois Wildflowers, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center