Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

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:

Availability:

Big Box Stores, Quality Nurseries, Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales, Seed

Propagation:

Seed.

Light:

Full Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

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

Coming Soon!

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.

Natural Range in Florida:

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.