# eastern redcedar (*Juniperus virginiana*) The eastern redcedar is a beautiful tree with soft, green needles and a lovely smell. It can grow tall and provides homes for many birds and animals. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 33 - **Habitat:** Forests ![eastern redcedar](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/2009-10-31_Eastern_Juniper%252C_Gibraltar_Rock%252C_Columbia_County%252C_Wisconsin.jpg&width=800) Photo: Joshua Mayer from Madison, WI, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2009-10-31_Eastern_Juniper%252C_Gibraltar_Rock%252C_Columbia_County%252C_Wisconsin.jpg) ## Appearance The eastern redcedar is an evergreen conifer with a dense, conical crown and distinctive reddish-brown bark that peels in fibrous strips. Its leaves are usually a mix of sharp, needle-like juvenile foliage and pressed, scale-like mature foliage, often with a blue-green hue. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Pinopsida - **Order:** Pinales - **Family:** Cupressaceae - **Genus:** Juniperus ## Interesting facts - Early American settlers used redcedar heartwood to build log cabins and fences. - Its 'berries' are actually tiny cones that smell sweet when crushed! - The wood of a redcedar is often used to make pencils because it's soft yet strong. - Unlike most trees, its wood is so dense it often sinks in water! ## Special abilities - **Pioneer Power:** Eastern redcedar can grow in poor soils and disturbed land, helping it colonize new areas where other trees struggle. - **Berry Buffet:** Eastern redcedar produces small, bluish, berry-like cones that provide essential food for many birds through winter. - **Aromatic Armor:** Eastern redcedar has aromatic wood that acts as a natural insect repellent, helping it defend against some pests. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 500-3000 cm - **Spread:** 250-800 cm - **Bloom Season:** Early Spring - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Feasts on its nutrient-rich 'berries' in winter. - **Eats:** [Cedar Waxwing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cedar-waxwing) (*Bombycilla cedrorum*) — Loves to eat its 'berries', spreading seeds far and wide. - **Eats:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Browses on its foliage, especially during harsh winters. - **Parasitizes:** [Cedar-apple Rust](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cedar-apple-rust) (*Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae*) — Causes galls on branches, needing apple trees to complete its life cycle. ## Traits - [Aromatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aromatic): Aromatic plants produce and emit fragrant volatile organic compounds, often for defense or to attract pollinators. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Coniferous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coniferous): Coniferous plants are typically evergreen, bearing needles or scales and reproductive cones. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Stay on paths when exploring near trees and don't climb without an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify eastern redcedar? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is eastern redcedar? 500-3000 cm ### How wide does eastern redcedar spread? 250-800 cm ### When does eastern redcedar bloom? Early Spring ### Is eastern redcedar edible? No ### Is eastern redcedar toxic? Mild ### What is eastern redcedar's lifecycle? Perennial ### How is eastern redcedar pollinated? Wind ## Where to spot - [Concord](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/concord) — Tennessee, US · Neighborhood - [Delaware and Raritan Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/delaware-and-raritan-canal) — New Jersey, US · Historic Site - [Fairlie-Poplar](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fairlie-poplar) — Georgia, US · Neighborhood - [Fort Payne Boom Town Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-payne-boom-town-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Fort St. Jean Baptiste State Historic Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-st-jean-baptiste-state-historic-site) — Louisiana, US · Nature Reserve - [Gibraltar Rock State Natural Area](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gibraltar-rock-state-natural-area) — Wisconsin, US · State Park [View all places to see eastern redcedar](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/eastern-redcedar) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Eastern Redcedar: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-redcedar)