← Bedfellow

Eastern Red Cedar

Juniperus virginiana

Tough pioneer evergreen with aromatic wood, tolerating poor dry soils where little else establishes. Its blue berry-like cones carry waxwings and other songbirds through winter. All parts may be toxic if eaten, so leave the cones to the birds.

Family

Cupressaceae

Type

tree

Lifespan

perennial

Height

30–65 ft

Spacing

8–25 ft apart

Light

sun, part shade, shade

Soil moisture

dry

Soil pH

acidic, neutral, alkaline

Bloom

March, April, May

Bloom colors

green, purple, brown

Wildlife value

songbirds, butterflies, larval host

Caterpillar hosts

~42 butterfly & moth species

Landscape uses

hedge or screen, naturalizing

Native states

AL, AR, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV