Redcedar, Eastern
Juniperus virginiana
Cupressaceae - Cypress

Description

See also Rocky Mountain Juniper description.

Leaves: Awl-shaped or scale-like, both kinds often on the same tree; evergreen; similar to Rocky Mountain juniper but blue-green turning a red-brown to purple color in winter; arranged in overlapping pairs.

Twigs/buds: Twigs green initially, later becoming brown; thin, 4-sided, grooved by leaf-cushions; covered in scales. Buds same color as leaves, naked; small (1/8" long), and covered by leaves.

Flowers/fruit: Dioecious. Fruit berry-like; round; about 1/4" in diameter; blue or purple; often with white, waxy coating; contains 2 or 3 hard seeds; ripens in one season.

Bark: Grayish to red-brown, attractive; fibrous, thin; exfoliating in long, narrow shreds, often revealing an ashy gray color beneath.

Wood: Similar to Rocky Mountain juniper; moderate importance; sapwood nearly white; heartwood purple or rose-red to red-brown; characteristic odor; growth rings distinct; used for fence posts, closet and chest lining, novelties, ornamental purposes; oils and other materials are extracted from juniper wood and foliage for use in perfumes, medicines, and for other purposes. Juniper heartwood is very decay resistant, making all of these species good for fence posts.

General: Native from the eastern Great Plains east through the rest of the eastern U.S; not native to Utah. Often called cedar, but not a true cedar. Hardy and long-lived. Medium to slow growth. Intermediate shade tolerance.

Landscape Use: Very good windbreak or hedge tree, but winter color of species generally is not as nice as Rocky Mountain juniper. Some good cultivars available though. Zones 2-9.

Cultivars: 'Baker's Blue', 'Blue Cloud', 'Blue Mountain', 'Brodie', 'Burkii', 'Canaertii', 'Cupressifolia', 'Emerald Sentinel', 'Glauca', 'Globosa', 'Greenspire', 'Grey Orchard', 'Grey Owl', 'Hillii', 'Hillspire', 'Idyllwild', 'Kosteri', 'Manhattan Blue', 'Nova', 'O'Connor', 'Pendula', 'Platte River', 'Princeton Sentry', 'Pseudocupressus', 'Pyramidalis', 'Silver Spreader', 'Stover', 'Taylor', 'Tripartita'.

Characteristics

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