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Plant Profiles: Eastern Redcedar

Plant Profiles: Eastern Redcedar

(by Diane De Luca)

The name of the Eastern Redcedar is misleading. This dense, slow-growing evergreen tree is not a true cedar but a species of juniper that is native to eastern North America. (The Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) is a distinct species from the low-growing native common juniper (Juniper communis).) It is considered a pioneer species and can be one of the first trees to repopulate cleared or eroded land. Resistant to extremes of drought, heat, and cold, and tolerant of a wide range of soils, it can grow prolifically in many conditions. It is unusually long-lived and has been documented to persist for more than 900 years.

Photo of a Palm Warbler on Juniper by Rebecca Suomala.

Eastern Redcedar has separate male and female trees. The female trees produce seed cones that are berrylike; blue with a white waxy coating. Each cone contains one to three seeds. These persistent “berries” are an important food source for numerous bird species as well as a diversity of mammals including foxes, raccoons, skunks, opossums, and coyotes. Cedar Waxwings are particularly fond of the “berries” and their name was derived from this tree.

The dense foliage provides important cover and nesting habitat for many birds and small mammals. Chipping Sparrows, Song Sparrows, American Robins, and Northern Mockingbirds use the Redcedar as a favored nesting site. Many other species including Dark-eyed Juncos, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and owls use this tree for roosting.