Characteristics
| Hardiness zone | 3a |
|---|---|
| Foliage type | evergreen |
| Plant form | pyramidal |
| Mature height | 40 feet |
| Spread | 20 feet |
| Light requirements | full sun |
| Moisture requirements | dry to moist |
| Plant origin | North American native |
Eastern Redcedar
Botanical name: Juniperus virginiana
A rugged, upright growing evergreen tree; typically has dusty or gray-green needles which turn brownish in winter; adaptable especially to dry soils, but needs full sun; many fine cultivars available in all sizes imaginable.
Ornamental Features
Eastern Redcedar has attractive bluish-green foliage. The scale-like leaves are highly ornamental and turn coppery-bronze in fall. It produces silvery blue berries from late spring to late winter. The flowers are not ornamentally significant.
Landscape Attributes
Eastern Redcedar is an evergreen tree with a strong central leader and a distinctive and refined pyramidal form. It lends an extremely fine and delicate texture to the landscape composition which can make it a great accent feature on this basis alone.
This is a relatively low maintenance tree, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.
Eastern Redcedar is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Accent, Vertical Accent, Hedges/Screening, Windbreaks and Shelterbelts
Planting and Growing
Eastern Redcedar will grow to be about 40 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 2 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 70 years or more.
This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for xeriscaping or the moisture-conserving landscape. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This species is native to parts of North America.
