Eastern Red Cedar is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree native to much of the eastern United States. It typically grows 30–50 feet tall and is highly adaptable, thriving in poor soils, dry conditions, and open areas.

This tree has dense, scale-like foliage (tiny overlapping leaves) that ranges from dark green to bluish-green. Its bark is reddish-brown and peels in thin strips. The tree produces small, blue berry-like cones (fleshy seed cones) that are an important food source for birds.

Eastern Red Cedar is often one of the first trees to grow in abandoned fields, making it an important pioneer species (early colonizing plant). Its durable, aromatic wood is commonly used for fence posts and cedar chests.

References

Juniperus virginiana (Eastern Redcedar, Eastern Red Cedar) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. (n.d.). Plants.ces.ncsu.edu. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/juniperus-virginiana/

Words by Ben Hansen.  Photos by Sarah Cote.  2026