Coastal Red Cedar Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- jew-NIP-er-us vir-jin-ee-AY-nuh sil-iss-ih-KOL-ah
- Description
-
The small round red cedar from the outer Southern coastal plains has plump cones (3-4 mm long) with scale-like leaves forming on the slender extremity of the sprig on the slow- growing shoots. This common plant is found in sand dunes and marshes yet, it does not like an over abundance of water, The bark is a cinnamon red color and is planted as either a hedge, or barrier
This plant may be confused with: Juniperus virginiana The fleshy cones on Southern coastal redcedar are smaller than those of Eastern Redcedar (3-4 mm long vs. 4-7 mm long).
VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:






- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Juniperus
- Species:
- virginiana
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- South Eastern U.S.A
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Spreading
- Weeping
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12-24 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7a, 7b, 8b, 8a, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11b, 11a
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Blue
- Green
- White
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Spring
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- This plump cone in spring is green following with a bluish color and eventually having a white topping.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Needled Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Needles
- Leaf Shape:
- Acicular
- Obtuse
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The shorter shiny scale-like leaves being bluntly obtuse to acute at the tip of a stem grow on the slow-growing shoots.
-
-
Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Exfoliating
- Papery
- Bark Description:
- The bark's new growth is green turning to a striking cinnamon red color as it matures.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Landscape Theme:
- Native Garden
- Design Feature:
- Barrier
- Hedge