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Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola is often confused with:
Juniperus virginiana Juniperus virginiana
Plants that fill a similar niche:
Ilex vomitoria Ilex vomitoria
Juniperus virginiana Juniperus virginiana
Myrica cerifera Myrica cerifera
Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola has some common insect problems:
Juniper Pest Management Calendar
Juniper Webworm
Juniper Tip Dwarf Mite
Juniper Scale Insect
Pests of Conifers

Southern Redcedar Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola

Phonetic Spelling
jew-NIP-er-us vir-jin-ee-AY-nuh sil-iss-ih-KOL-ah
Description

Southern redcedar is a needled evergreen tree in the cypress family (Cupressaceae) and is native to the southeastern coastal plains of the United States. The varietal name, silicicola, means occurring on silica sands.

This common tree is found growing in sand dunes and marshes in the South, but it does not like an overabundance of water. It is drought- and salt-tolerant and grows well in a wide variety of soils. It also does well in urban settings and requires little care. It can reach 30 to 40 feet in height and 25 feet in width. Plant in full sun 12 to 24 feet apart.

Southern redcedar has drooping branch tips and green leaves with a fine texture. The bark is an attractive cinnamon red color, providing winter interest in the landscape. Only female (or predominantly female) trees bear cones and then only if pollinated by wind-borne pollen from a male tree. This juniper has plump cones about an eighth of an inch long and scale-like leaves that form on the slender ends of the slow-growing shoots. 

This tree grows well in coastal areas. It can be used as a windscreen, barrier, or hedge. Consider it also for a native or winter garden.

This plant may be confused with Juniperus virginiana. The fleshy cones on the southern redcedar are smaller than those of the eastern redcedar (which can be up to a quarter of an inch long).

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Junipers are susceptible to a variety of insect pests like aphids, bagworms, caterpillars, spider mites, juniper scales, juniper tip dwarf mites, juniper webworms, and spruce spider mites. It shares with apple trees susceptibility to a rust fungus called Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae. This fungus causes "cedar apples" on red cedar twigs and dark leaf spots on apple leaves.

The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common juniper diseases and insect pests.

VIDEO Created by Elizabeth Meyer for "Trees, Shrubs and Conifers" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

More information on Juniperus virginiana.

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Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#small tree#drought tolerant#interesting bark#winter interest#windbreak#highly beneficial coastal plants#NC native#screening#bird friendly#coastal plant#barrier#hedge
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#evergreen#small tree#drought tolerant#interesting bark#winter interest#windbreak#highly beneficial coastal plants#NC native#screening#bird friendly#coastal plant#barrier#hedge
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Juniperus
    Species:
    virginiana
    Family:
    Cupressaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Woody
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    South Eastern U.S.A
    Wildlife Value:
    Birds eat the fleshy cones.
  • 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, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Blue
    Green
    White
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Spring
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Description:
    This fleshy cone in spring is green, but it ripens to a bluish color with a waxy, white surface.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Description:
    This is a conifer, a non-flowering plant.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Needled Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Prickly
    Smooth
    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:
    New bark is green turning to a striking cinnamon-red color as it matures.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    Yes
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Coastal
    Landscape Theme:
    Native Garden
    Winter Garden
    Design Feature:
    Barrier
    Hedge
    Attracts:
    Songbirds