Eastern Red Cedar
Juniperus virginiana
ConiferAbout Eastern Red Cedar
Eastern Red Cedar is a tough, adaptable native juniper found across much of eastern North America. Despite its common name, it is a juniper, not a true cedar. It is often the first tree to colonize abandoned fields and is valued for its aromatic, rot-resistant wood used in chests and fence posts.
Quick Facts
How to Identify Eastern Red Cedar
- Dense, scale-like foliage (mature) and sharp, needle-like juvenile foliage
- Small, round, blue-gray berry-like cones on female trees
- Reddish-brown, fibrous bark that peels in thin strips
- Columnar to pyramidal form
- Aromatic wood with a distinctive cedar scent
Care Guide
- Extremely drought-tolerant once established; rarely needs supplemental water
- Prune lightly in late winter to shape; avoid cutting into old wood
- Avoid planting near apple orchards, as it hosts cedar-apple rust
- Virtually pest and disease free
- No fertilizer needed in most situations
Known Issues (2)
Bagworm
MODERATEA moth whose larvae construct distinctive spindle-shaped bags from silk and foliage fragments. They feed on over 100 species of trees and shrubs, with conifers being most vulnerable since they cannot regrow lost foliage as readily.
Affecting 28 regions
Cedar-Apple Rust
MODERATEA fungal disease requiring two hosts to complete its life cycle: eastern red cedar (juniper) and apple or crabapple trees. It causes economic losses in apple orchards and aesthetic damage to landscape cedars.
Affecting 34 regions