Juniperus virginiana Linnaeus

Common names: eastern red cedar, cedre rouge, coastal red-cedar, red-cedar, southern red-cedar.
Synonyms: Juniperus barbadensis C. Mohr non Linnaeus, Juniperus lucayana auct. non Britton, Juniperus silicicola (Small) Bailey, Juniperus virginiana Linnaeus ssp. crebra (Fernald & Griscom), E. Murray, Juniperus virginiana Linnaeus ssp. silicicola (Small) E. Murray, Juniperus virginiana Linnaeus ssp. silicicola (Small) J. Silba, Juniperus virginiana Linnaeus var. crebra Fernald & Griscom, Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola (Small) E. Murray, Juniperus virginiana Linnaeus var. silicicola (Small) J. Silba, Juniperus virginiana Linnaeus var. virginiana, Sabina silicicola Small, Sabina virginiana (Linnaeus) Antoine.
Family: Cupressaceae.

Brief description:
Eastern red cedar is a tree of field edges, fence rows, roadsides, and woods. It's scale-like evergreen leaves (prickly to the touch) and narrow upright form give it a distinctive appearance. Like all Junipers, the eastern red cedar is a gymnosperm and the reproductive structure is a "cone" rather than a true flower--only in this case the female cones develop to round fleshy light gray structure that is related to a pine cone (though very different than a pine cone in appearance) and is often called a "juniper berry". The fleshy cones contain the seeds and are eaten by a wide variety of birds. Perhaps because it is green all year, it is often planted in graveyards. The wood is fragrant and enduring--one common use was for cedar chests.

USDA Profile

Herbarium sheet images:

Live specimen images:

• Branchlet with scale-like leaves and seed cones • Branchlet with scale-like leaves (alternative form) • Branchlet with needle-like leaves • Close-up of scale-like leaves and seed cones •