Eastern Redcedar
Juniperus virginiana
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Eastern redcedar grows from Nova Scotia westward through Ontario, southward to eastern Texas, and eastward to northern Florida and the Atlantic coast. It thrives in deep, well-drained, moist soils and full sun.
Fruit: A 10-13 mm wide berrylike cone. They are dark blue with a light blue bloom. They appear in the fall, mature in late July to mid-November depending on the location, and remain on the tree until early spring.
Flowers: A small, inconspicuous flower. They appear in early to late spring.
Uses: The wood is commonly used in cedar chests, fence posts, and rails. It naturally repels insects, making it desirable for clothing storage and pet bedding. It's sometimes grown commercially for Christmas trees. Juniper tea can be made by boiling the twigs.
Ethnobotany: Native Americans would use eastern redcedar for flutes, furniture, incense, medicine, and more.
Importance to wildlife: Songbirds and small mammals eat the fruit. The tree provides winter cover and is a larval host for Juniper Hairstreak and Imperial Moth.
The full eastern redcedar tree. Eastern redcedar is evergreen, and can grow as either a tree or a shrub. It will grow to 30-40 feet tall in optimal conditions.
The bark of an eastern redcedar. Bark is light brown to reddish brown, thin, fibrous, and sheddy.
The foliage of an eastern redcedar. Unlike the similar-looking northern white cedar, eastern redcedar doesn't have a flattened, fanlike appearance.
The scalelike leaves of an eastern redcedar. Leaves are yellowish to bluish green, 2 mm long or less, closely appressed and overlapping, and opposite arranged. On young trees, they can also grow as 6-12 mm long, sharp pointed, opposite or whorled arranged, needlelike leaves.
The fruit of an eastern redcedar. Though they look like berries, the fruit is actually a cone.
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