juniperus virginiana - eastern red cedar
This tree grows from 40 to 60 feet tall, and is 1 to 2 feet in diameter. It is an aromatic tree with a compact, columnar crown, sometimes becoming broad and irregular. The leaves are evergreen, opposite in 4 rows forming slender, 4-angled twigs, 1/16" to 3/8" long on long leaders. They are scale like and not toothed, dark green with a gland dot. The bark is reddish-brown, thin, fibrous, and shreddy. The cones are 1/4" to 3/8" in diameter, berrylike, dark blue with a bloom that is soft, juicy, sweetish, and resinous with 1-2 seeds inside. The pollen cones are on separate trees. Young needles are smaller and more needle-like than the more mature ones. As they get older they develop into small, scale-like needles.
This is the most widely distributed eastern conifer. It is native to 37 states. It is resistant to extremes of drought, heat, and cold. The aromatic wood is used for fenceposts, cedar chests, cabinetwork, and carvings. It was first observed at Roanoke Island, Virginia in 1564. It was prized by the colonists for furniture, rail fences, and log cabins. The cedar oil, that is obtained from the wood and leaves, was used for medicine and perfumes. The heartwood was almost exclusively the source of wood for pencils. The berries are consumed by wildlife including the Cedar Waxwing, which is named for this tree. It can be injurious to apple orchards because it is an alternate host for cedar-apple rust, a fungal disease.
This tree is found from dry uplands, especially limestone areas, to flood plains and swamps. It can also be found in abandoned fields and fence rows, often in scattered pure stands.
This is the most widely distributed eastern conifer. It is native to 37 states. It is resistant to extremes of drought, heat, and cold. The aromatic wood is used for fenceposts, cedar chests, cabinetwork, and carvings. It was first observed at Roanoke Island, Virginia in 1564. It was prized by the colonists for furniture, rail fences, and log cabins. The cedar oil, that is obtained from the wood and leaves, was used for medicine and perfumes. The heartwood was almost exclusively the source of wood for pencils. The berries are consumed by wildlife including the Cedar Waxwing, which is named for this tree. It can be injurious to apple orchards because it is an alternate host for cedar-apple rust, a fungal disease.
This tree is found from dry uplands, especially limestone areas, to flood plains and swamps. It can also be found in abandoned fields and fence rows, often in scattered pure stands.