Juniperus virginiana L. var. virginiana

Eastern Red Cedar

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

Eastern Red Cedar is a native tree in the Cypress family (Cupressaceae). It is found in every Alabama County. Eastern Red Cedar grows on dunes, in old fields, along fence rows, on cedar glades, and in pastures. It is usually found in areas protected from fire. Eastern Red Cedar has small scale like evergreen leaves that are closely appressed to the stems. The bark is thin and papery, pealing in strips. Eastern Red Cedar is dioecious—with separate male and female plants. Male trees produce small yellowish pollen cones. Female trees produce fleshy cones that are dark blue or purple in color, often with a waxy bloom. The heart wood of Eastern Red Cedar is reddish-pink and very aromatic. It is rot resistant and repels insects. It is used for cedar chests, animal bedding, and for pencils. The female cones are a favorite food for many bird species, and are the main flavoring agent in gin. A second variety of Red Cedar also occurs in Alabama-- Southern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana Linnaeus var. silicicola (Small) E. Murray). It is very similar to Eastern Red Cedar and differs in having smaller seed cones, leaves that are often obtuse at the apex, and slightly larger pollen cones. Southern Red Cedar is primarily a coastal species and intergrades with Eastern Red Cedar. --A. Diamond

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Native G5 (Global Rank)

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