Eastern Red Cedar Juniperus virginiana

Eastern red cedar is an evergreen tree in the Cypress (Cupressaceae) family. This conifer is native to North America and grows from Maine south to Florida and west to South Dakota and Texas. It is a juniper and not, despite its common names, a cedar. 

This juniper is easily grown in average, dry to moist, well-drained soils in full sun. In good conditions it will grow to 30 to 40 feet in height and reach a width of 10 to 20 feet. It will tolerate a variety of soils and growing conditions, from swamps to dry, rocky ground. It can even grow on seemingly barren soils that few other plants can tolerate, although it may never grow bigger than a bush in those conditions. It prefers moist conditions but is intolerant of continuously wet soil. It only tolerates shade when it is extremely young. It has the best drought resistance of any conifer native to the eastern United States. This tree is  easy to transplant and a tough, dependable tree—but considered weedy by many gardeners. It is highly salt tolerant. This colorful tree needs airy space to grow. Plant 12 to 24 feet apart. 

Eastern red cedar has blue-green, scale-like leaves. The bark is red-brown in color and peels off in long, narrow, fibrous strips, often leaving ashy gray areas exposed. Small, light blue-green clusters of flowers mature in late winter or early spring. The tree produces a small, round blue fruit that matures in the fall on female trees.

The heartwood is light brown and aromatic, contrasted by the white sapwood, and is commonly used for cedar chests. The wood is also often used to make fence posts and rails, as it is naturally rot-resistant. It also repels insects, lending to its appeal for use in clothing storage and pet bedding.

Eastern red cedar makes an excellent specimen and does well in a grouping or as a screen or windbreak. It provides cover, habitat and food for wildlife. This tree is also resistant to damage by deer. It is sometimes grown for Christmas trees, especially in warmer areas of North Carolina.

Fire Risk: This plant has a high flammability rating and should not be planted within the defensible space of your home. Select plants with a low flammability rating for the sites nearest your home. 

Quick ID Hints:

• Plant has grayish to reddish-brown bark that exfoliates in long strips
• Scale leaves are in a four-rank arrangement
• Small, oval, glandular depressions are on the backs of leaves
• Male cones are yellow and occur at branch tips
• Female cones are blue, frosted looking, and 1/4 inch in size
• Leaf color is sage green to blue-green in the summer
• Leaf color is bronze to yellow-brown in winter
• Juvenile, awl-shaped leaves are often present in pairs

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This tree is susceptible to twig blight and scale. Bagworms are also a problem. Mites may occur. 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. 

VIDEO Created by Homegrown featuring Jeff Owen, Area Extension Forestry Specialist for NC State Extension