Eastern red cedar
Juniperus virginiana · Cupressaceae
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around eastern red cedar and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Evergreen, overlapping scales gray-green to blue-gray
- Blooming
- Discreet flowers in spring, dark blue berries in autumn
- Adult size
- 12 to 20 m in height, 4 to 6 m in width depending on cultivars
- Growth
- Slow to moderate
- Hardiness
- -20 to -25 °C, very hardy
- Origin
- Eastern and central North America
- Soil type
- Well-drained, tolerates poor and chalky soils
Care
Exposure and location
Eastern Red Cedar appreciates full sun exposure (minimum 6 hours per day) for a compact habit and beautiful coloration. It tolerates partial shade but may become less dense. Choose well-ventilated locations to limit fungal diseases.
Watering
Water regularly during the first year after planting, then gradually reduce. Once established, Eastern Red Cedar tolerates drought well. Avoid excess standing moisture which causes root rot.
Soil and drainage
Plant in well-drained soil, neutral to slightly chalky. Enrich the planting hole with coarse compost if the soil is too compact. Drainage is essential for the tree's longevity.
Pruning and maintenance
Requires little pruning. Intervene lightly in late winter or early spring to balance the shape or remove dead branches. Avoid severe cuts which heal poorly. Columnar cultivars require minimal maintenance.
Nutritional requirements
Eastern Red Cedar tolerates poor soils and requires no regular fertilization. Apply light surface compost in spring if the soil is very depleted. No chemical fertilizer needed once the plant is established.
Diseases and pests
Vigorous and little susceptible to pests. Monitor excess moisture which can promote damping-off or fungal spots. Good air circulation prevents most health problems.
Did you know?
Eastern Red Cedar, especially the heartwood, releases a characteristic aromatic scent and was long prized in fine woodworking and pencil manufacturing. Its red, extremely durable wood was also historically used to make luxury colonial furniture in North America.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
- Giant sequoiaSequoiadendron giganteum
- JuniperJuniperus communis
- Northern WhitecedarThuja occidentalis
- Bald cypressTaxodium distichum
- Lawson cypressChamaecyparis lawsoniana
- Coast redwoodSequoia sempervirens
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.