7 named cultivars

treeN. America Native

Eastern Redcedar

$44.95

The Story

Plant Bio

Juniperus virginiana, eastern redcedar, is a dense evergreen conifer native to eastern North America from Maine to Florida and west to Texas. Mature growth carries blue-green scale-like foliage that bronzes in winter, while juvenile growth is needle-like and sharper. Small round blue cones ripen through autumn and winter on female trees.

Its tolerance is the point: it holds on in poor, rocky, dry and alkaline ground where most conifers fail, which is why it colonises old fields so readily. It will not accept continuously wet soil, and it is an alternate host for cedar-apple rust, so it is a poor neighbour for orchards.

Uses & Benefits:

A dense, year-round evergreen with aromatic foliage that bronzes attractively through winter.

Forms a durable windbreak or screen on dry, poor or rocky ground where little else establishes.

Larval host for the juniper hairstreak and imperial moth; its berries and dense cover sustain songbirds through winter.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Tree

Height

420 inches

Width

180 inches

Light

Full Sun

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Water

Low

Humidity

Low

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Eastern North America

Toxicity

Non-toxic

Marketplace

Where to Buy

Garden Goods Direct

In Stock$44.95

Shipping costs Year-round shipping Free shipping

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in autumn or early spring in a sunny, well-drained site.
Choose full sun; it only tolerates shade when very young.
Set the root ball level with the surrounding soil and backfill firmly.
Water through the first season, then only in extended drought.
Avoid siting near apples or crabapples to limit cedar-apple rust.
Leave it largely unpruned; it needs little shaping.

Pro Tip

Keep it well away from apples and crabapples: redcedar is the alternate host for cedar-apple rust and will reinfect them each year.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Plant in full sun with good drainage ☀️
Use it as a windbreak or evergreen screen 🌲
Water through the first season to establish 🌱
Check for bagworms in mid-summer 🔍

Don't

Plant in continuously wet or poorly drained soil ❌
Site it near apple or crabapple trees ❌
Shear hard into old wood, which does not resprout ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Monitor
Prune

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Evergreen windbreak or privacy screenWildlife shelter belt on poor soilDrought-tolerant specimen conifer

Companion Plants

Big Bluestem Little Bluestem Serviceberry Sumac Butterfly Weed

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Eastern Redcedar questions

What zones can Eastern Redcedar grow in?

Eastern Redcedar is hardy in USDA Zones 4–9. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Eastern Redcedar deer resistant?

Yes — Eastern Redcedar is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.

When does Eastern Redcedar bloom?

Eastern Redcedar typically blooms in spring through late spring. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Eastern Redcedar need full sun?

Eastern Redcedar does best in full sun (6+ hours).

Is Eastern Redcedar drought tolerant?

Yes — once established (usually after the first full season), Eastern Redcedar handles dry spells with minimal watering. Water deeply its first year to build the root system that makes that possible.