Sometimes you gotta be patient and wait for a seedling to mature a little to see what it is. I think in this case you're going to have to do exactly that.

Well we can rule out a loblolly pine.
It would helpful to know where you're located.
It actually looks yew-ish to me.

probably that invasive juniper ... obviously.. since it is invading her garden beds without invitation ...

the birds are the culprit ....

check out the link.. do you have these in your area ...

there have been a few posts about this one.. but i cant remember if it was in the conifer.. tree or shrub forum ...

find out if it is considered an invasive species in your county/state

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link .. flip to the WEB side for info

Yes, might be Juniperus virginiana, commonly known as Eastern redcedar. I like it. What city/state are you near?

I apologize for not stating where I am located in my original post. I am in Richmond, Virginia. Hardiness zone 7a.

There are those juniper trees located here...I see them everywhere in the area. Not in my cul-de-sac, but in my neighborhood. I could see birds dropping the seeds in their poo as being a culprit. I hope it's not a juniper...I'd rather have some sort of pine tree. I guess I will have to wait and see when they get older.

probably that invasive juniper ... obviously.. since it is invading her garden beds without invitation ...

She finds two and you call that "invading her garden beds". Sheesh!

What other juniper are y'all talking about? My neighbor has HUGE chinese junipers and I never get a seedling. All my juniper seedlings are the native ones. My neighbor also has elaeagnus and privet and I get those seedlings all the time.

I see them everywhere in the area.we have had this debate too many times ... i say invasive.. you say tomato.. whats that all about ..

my hat walks itself around the yard.. you might want to take back that challenge ..

and if you are so sure what it isnt.. i note you did NOT propose an alternative ...

whatever.. just cause it was free.. and its cute.. doesnt mean it is valuable.. and i will leave you to decide that ...

actually.. the spear-like points on that thing.. remind of one of the worst conifers in my yard to brush past .. juniper rigida ... mind you.. gorgeous otherwise.. JUST DONT TOUCH IT ...

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link

"we have had this debate too many times ... i say invasive.. you say..."

So, if I said it wasn't a native (which Juniperus virginiana definitely is for most of the US, but couldn't possibly be if it was technically an invasive species) but all the data says it is a native, would that also just be a tomaato/tomoto debate?

"if you are so sure what it isnt.. i note you did NOT propose an alternative"

If I say it's not an Acer platanoides, do I have to propose an alternative? I'm not sure what it is, but do know it's not a J.v. I still think the hat bet is a good one, especially if you agree to become a J.v. advocate if it turns out not to be one. (-;

I was out in my yard today and came upon this seedling J. virginiana. Tell me if you think it looks like the original poster's picture.

{{gwi:336832}}

By the way, Ken, I see dogwoods everywhere in my neighborhood. Are they "invasive" then? Seeing them everywhere can just mean they are common, not that they are invasive.

Def an Eastern Red Cedar.

what a hoot.. brandon has to argue it more.. lol ...

are dandelions invasive.. if she has one and likes it.. and finds more.. should she transplant it.. and fertilize it??? why she??? they never signed their name. .

anyway.. and i will yell I AM NOT USING 'INVASIVE' AS A TECHNICAL TERM ... AM SAYING THEY SET SEED AND ROOT FREELY.. AS THE op SAYS.. everywhere ...

darn caps lock .. lol..

i will repeat.. just because its free.. and cute.. does not mean that it might be advantageous to keep it in your garden ..

but if it makes your toes curl.. move it.. be happy.. enjoy it ... what do i care.. the argument is esoteric ...

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: wow that is a big word .. meaning only a bunch of bean-heads would argue about it ... lol

I've seen hundreds of Juniperus virginiana seedlings up close and personal (for Ken: not that their invasive, or even really all that aggressive here). This plant is very common in my area. I have never seen one that resembled the OP's seedling. The tips are somewhat similar, but by the time the seedling gets that large, the lower portions are significantly different and the lower needles aren't that large and flat.

Other juniper seedlings have similarities, but I still wouldn't guess an ID.

Wow ya'll, i didn't mean to start an argument!! I just wondered what kind of tree it might be LOL :)

The seedling does look like the one esh_ga posted above...almost identical in fact. I looked up the Juniperus virginiana on google, but none of the seedlings I saw in images looks like mine. If it is an Eastern Red Cedar, I don't want it. If it were a true cedar, then heck ya. But not a juniper. I'll wait till they grow a bit more and post images again, maybe then it will be more clear as to the seedlings' identity.

There's no need to apologize at all. I think Cheryl probably summed it up best. Just be patient and wait for the seedling to mature a little to see what it is. Claiming that it's definitely some certain species is just plain funny at this point. I'm not even sure it's not a Juniperus virginiana, but, if it is, it's certainly atypical of what I'm used to seeing (of course the ones I see aren't growing in a cup of pine fines either).

Hi everyone, coming in on this 5 years later :-) but that is without a doubt Juniperus Virginia, eastern red cedar. I live 2 hours from the poster in Northern Virginia. We have these everywhere. I see seedlings this young in the spring. The reason the poster says it doesn't look like the eastern red cedar seedling pictures on line is because the seedlings in the pictures on line are older seedlings. I don't see any pictures of seedlings that young either when I look on line.

By now, 5 years later, the poster probably already knows that this is an eastern red cedar, because the seedling will have grown.

I know you didn't want it, but if you still have it, they're fun to do topiaries with, very forgiving. Spirals, balls, clouds, whatever. They are definitely native. They are not on any invasive species lists that I know of. The word to use is aggressive, not invasive. They are somewhat aggressive seeders - but way less than maples and poplars. In my area, they seed roughly about as often as oaks.

Looks too blue to be an Eastern Red Cedar. Eastern Red Cedar usually are dark green or have a brown/green/maroon color. I go with the yew suggestion. Pretty common, can be blue, also could be spread by birds.

I'd love to have the OP step forward and resolve this debate?

Yes I would love to hear from the OP too. OP?

As far as too blue, nope, it's an Eastern Red Cedar. I know this tree, grew up with it. It's very blue when young. The color warms up to green as they get older, and then darkens to a darker green as they get even older. We have them all around here and their seedlings, right under the trees, are blue. In the winter, the mature tres turn more olive, and the males get a reddish tinge to them. I use the seedlings to make topiaries. They grow very fast when young. They have the pointed needles when young, then as they mature, the foliage morphs into scales.

It is most definitely not a yew, sorry but that's not even close. Yew needles are thicker, flatter, shinier, and rich green even at a very young age. Yew leaves are also more regularly placed along the stem, unlike the more irregular look of the Juniperus genus.

Attached is a collection of 3 pictures, one of seedlings, the second of a young plant, and the third of an older but still young plant. You can see the progression from blue to green.

For comparison, also attached is a picture of a yew seedling I had in my yard myself.

Tiny VA junipers have juvenile foliage. That looks like one.