Description
The Eastern Red Cedar is a conifer, often mistaken for its near-namesake – the White Cedar. Despite its name, it is actually in the juniper genus.
There are has two kinds of bluish-green leaf types produced on this tree, sharply pointed needles and softer, more rounded scale leaves. The cones of this species look like little berries, with a bluish-white powder on their surface. Eastern Red Cedar trees are well adapted to dry soils and harsh conditions, and are resilient, thriving even with salt exposure from road runoff.
As a native evergreen, this species is useful to use as a hedge to create windbreaks in gardens within an urban environment. It rarely requires pruning but can be sheared and shaped into a topiary.
If you would like to create a cedar hedge, plant seedlings about 12 inches apart. They eventually will fill in and grow in height. Once they’ve desired proportions, trim them to maintain the size you want.
| Eastern Red Cedar Facts and Features | |
| Mature Size | 10 m. (35 ft.) |
| Sun/Shade | Intolerant of shade |
| Moisture | Dry to average moisture |
| Soil | Prefers well-drained loamy, sandy or rocky soils with high pH. |
| Flowers | No |
| Fruit | No |
| Special Features | The red cedar is a small, hardy, slow-growing tree. Great for hedges or topiary |
