Juniperus virginiana

eastern red cedar

Nomenclature

Common Name:

eastern red cedar

Synonym(s):

Juniperus silicola

Genus species:

Juniperus virginiana

Family:

Cupressaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

to 40 ft tall by to 20 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

NA

Fruit Color:

blue

Phenology:

Evergreen. Dioecious (male and female cones on separate trees). Female cones ripen in fall.

Noted For:

Hurricane Wind Resistance, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Often used as a screen by planting in one or two fairly dense rows. Also useful as a background tree.  Can be a specimen tree.

Considerations:

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Availability:

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Propagation:

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Light:

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Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Usually moist, occasional inundation -to- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salt.

Soil or Other Substrate:

Soil pH:

Slightly acidic to calcareous

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Birds

Birds eat the fruit-like cones and use the foliage for cover.

Native Habitats:

Calcareous soils, shell mounds, coastal hammocks, second growth on open rocky fields. Open.

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Was used as a southern Christmas tree before trees were carted in from the north.

General Comments:

The blue fruits on this tree are actually fleshy cones.