Juniperus virginiana

Eastern Red Cedar

Cupressaceae

Also known as Juniperus silicola

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:	Interesting foliage, Hurricane wind resistance

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.
Propagation:	Seed.
Availability:	Big box stores, Native nurseries, FNPS plant sales, Quality nurseries, Seed
Light:	Full Sun
Moisture Tolerance:	always floodedextremely dry
	(Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Very long very dry periods)
Moisture Tolerance:	Usually moist, occasional inundation ----- to ----- Very long very dry periods
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:	Tolerant of occasional/brief inundation such as can occur in storm surges.
Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance:	High. Can tolerate significant and ongoing amounts of salty wind and salt spray without injury.
Soil or other substrate:	Clay, Lime rock, Sand
Soil pH:	Slightly acidic to calcareous

Ecology

Wildlife:	Birds eat the fruit-like cones and use the foliage for cover.
Insects:
Native Habitats:	Calcareous soils, shell mounds, coastal hammocks, second growth on open rocky fields. Open.

Distribution and Planting Zones

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.