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Try This Unthirsty Evergreen for Fall and Winter Interest
Juniperus virginiana, with berrylike seed cones, adds an exclamation point to eastern North American gardens
If you’re looking for a drought-tolerant, long-lived evergreen tree that provides interest in autumn and winter, consider planting eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana). Not a true cedar as the common name implies, this evergreen tree belongs to the juniper genus and, like other cultivated junipers, has coarse-textured needles.
Midwestern and Great Lakes landscapes are commonly planted with the black hills spruce or the short-lived Colorado blue spruce. This native evergreen is a much better choice for homeowners because of its longevity, interesting berrylike seed cones, drought tolerance and dense, upright conical form.
Midwestern and Great Lakes landscapes are commonly planted with the black hills spruce or the short-lived Colorado blue spruce. This native evergreen is a much better choice for homeowners because of its longevity, interesting berrylike seed cones, drought tolerance and dense, upright conical form.
The tree’s dense, upright growth and coarse texture complement many garden plants.
Water requirement: Little water once established; prefers well-drained soils with moderate moisture
Light requirement: Partial to full sun
Mature size: 30 to 50 feet tall and 30 feet wide
Benefits and tolerances: Tolerates dry, well-drained soil; provides food and shelter for birds
Water requirement: Little water once established; prefers well-drained soils with moderate moisture
Light requirement: Partial to full sun
Mature size: 30 to 50 feet tall and 30 feet wide
Benefits and tolerances: Tolerates dry, well-drained soil; provides food and shelter for birds
A fast-growing evergreen, eastern redcedar can be used for screening on residential properties.
Seasonal interest: Bright green needles in spring and summer that turn maroon, olive or bronze in winter; blue berrylike seed cones that begin ripening in late summer and persist into autumn
When to plant: Spring or fall; plants available from most native plant nurseries in areas where it occurs
Distinguishing traits. Eastern redcedar has light brown bark with long vertical, peeling strips. Overall, it has a coarse texture and an upright form with a dense conical shape.
Seasonal interest: Bright green needles in spring and summer that turn maroon, olive or bronze in winter; blue berrylike seed cones that begin ripening in late summer and persist into autumn
When to plant: Spring or fall; plants available from most native plant nurseries in areas where it occurs
Distinguishing traits. Eastern redcedar has light brown bark with long vertical, peeling strips. Overall, it has a coarse texture and an upright form with a dense conical shape.
The berrylike seed cones turn blue in autumn and are sought after by birds, including waxwings and robins.
How to use it. This drought-tolerant evergreen can be used in a location with partial or full sun. Plant as a specimen or to provide screening along a property boundary.
Planting notes. Eastern redcedar is fairly fast-growing and has few disease problems. Once established, it requires little to no water. Protect young trees in the winter from antler rubbing by deer.
How to use it. This drought-tolerant evergreen can be used in a location with partial or full sun. Plant as a specimen or to provide screening along a property boundary.
Planting notes. Eastern redcedar is fairly fast-growing and has few disease problems. Once established, it requires little to no water. Protect young trees in the winter from antler rubbing by deer.
Eastern redcedar needles change color in the winter, turning from bright green to dark olive, bronze or maroon.
Wildlife notes. Eastern redcedar provides roosting shelter for birds in winter and seed cones as a food source.
See more Houzz guides to winter gardening
Browse native plants for your region
Wildlife notes. Eastern redcedar provides roosting shelter for birds in winter and seed cones as a food source.
See more Houzz guides to winter gardening
Browse native plants for your region
Common names: Eastern redcedar, red juniper
Origin: Native to North America, from Minnesota east to Maine in the north and from Texas east to northern Florida in the south; in Canada, in Ontario and Quebec
Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 35 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 37.2 degrees Celsius (USDA zones 3 to 10; find your zone)
Typical plant communities: Woodland edges, old fields, bluffs and prairies