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. Drought, heat, and cold tolerant. Avoid planting near apple trees, can spread cedar-apple rust, a fungal disease. 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. Provides cover and food for wildlife. Uses include medicinal, food, lumber, and ornamental. 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