JUNIPERUS VIRGINIANA / EASTERN RED CEDAR

JUNIPERUS VIRGINIANA / EASTERN RED CEDAR

A Hardy Native Evergreen with Year-Round Structure

Juniperus virginiana, commonly known as Eastern Red Cedar, is a tough, native evergreen valued for its dense, conical form, aromatic foliage, and exceptional adaptability. Thriving in full sun with well-drained soils, Eastern Red Cedar provides year-round structure, wind protection, and vital wildlife habitat. Its blue berry-like cones are an important food source for birds, while its evergreen foliage offers shelter throughout the seasons.

Why Choose Eastern Red Cedar?

Wildlife Friendly: Blue, berry-like cones provide food for birds; dense foliage offers shelter.
Evergreen & Year-Round Interest: Maintains structure, color, and texture through all seasons.
Extremely Hardy: Drought-tolerant and adaptable to poor, rocky, or dry soils.
Versatile & Long-Lived: Ideal for windbreaks, screens, and naturalized plantings.

Key Features:

Foliage Color: Dark green to bluish-green, aromatic evergreen foliage.
Fruit Color: Blue, berry-like cones on female plants.
Height and Spread: Typically grows 30–50 feet tall and 8–20 feet wide.
Hardiness: Hardy to USDA Zones 3–9.
Sunlight: Prefers full sun.
Soil Requirements: Well-drained soils; tolerates clay, sandy, rocky, and dry conditions.

Specifications:

Plant Size: 30–50 feet tall, 8–20 feet wide.
Growth Habit: Upright, conical evergreen tree.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 3–9.
Fruit Production: Blue berry-like cones develop on female plants.
Seasonal Interest: Evergreen foliage provides year-round structure and color.

Ideal Uses:

Windbreaks & Screens: Excellent for shelterbelts and privacy planting.
Wildlife & Naturalized Landscapes: Provides food, shelter, and nesting habitat.
Erosion Control & Slopes: Strong root system helps stabilize soil.
Low-Maintenance Landscapes: Extremely hardy and resilient once established.

Eastern Red Cedar is a tough and ecologically valuable native evergreen. Its year-round structure, wildlife benefits, and adaptability make it an excellent choice for windbreaks, naturalized landscapes, restoration projects, and low-maintenance plantings.