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Eastern Red Cedar

Juniperus virginiana

Other common name(s):

Eastern Redcedar, Virginia Juniper, Red Juniper, Pencil Cedar, Carolina Cedar, Red Savin

Family:

Cupressaceae (Cypress Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

East Central Texas Plains, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Bastrop Lost Pines, Floodplains and Low Terraces2, Northern Post Oak Savanna, Northern Prairie Outliers, San Antonio Prairie, Southern Post Oak Savanna
Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Tree

Height

30
to
50
ft.

Spread

15
to
25
ft.

Leaf Retention

Evergreen

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Limestone, Caliche, Well Drained

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade

Water Requirement

Low

Native Habitat

Grassland

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Green, Purple, Brown

Bloom Season

Spring

Seasonal Interest

Berry, Larval Host, Nesting Material

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Birds

Maintenance

No maintenance required. No pruning required. Needs deep soil. Propagation: Seed.

Comments

Good screen plant. Can spread easily in disturbed areas. Can cause seasonal allergies. Sensitive to fire. Plant a female to avoid pollen and have fruit, which is food for birds. Bark provides nesting material. Juniperus ashei (mistakenly called Cedar): Usually has 1 main trunk, leaf margins entire under a microscope. Provides cover and food for wildlife. Larval Host: Olive butterfly.

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) Miller, George O., Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas 2nd Ed., 2013, pg 48. 3) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 317. 4) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=JUVI 5) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Juniperus+virginiana&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 6) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=8218&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 7) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=18048#null, 8) Native and Adapted Landscape Plants, City of Austin and Texas A&M, 2014

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State Office Phone: 830.997.9272

State Office Address:
Native Plant Society of Texas
PO Box 3017
Fredericksburg, TX 78624

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