Does it grow well in shade?

No, it requires full sun to maintain its density and health.

How fast does it grow?

It is considered a slow to moderate grower, typically adding 30 to 60 centimeters per year.

Plant guide

Eastern red cedar.

Juniperus virginiana

Pronounced joo-NIP-er-us vir-jin-ee-AY-na

Also known as Eastern Red-cedar, Eastern Redcedar, Pencil Cedar, Red Cedar, Red Cedar Juniper, Red Cedar, Eastern Red Cedar, Virginian Juniper, Eastern Juniper, Red Juniper, Red Juniper, Red-cedar

eastern redcedar — Photo by Sandy Wolkenberg (CC BY) via iNaturalist

This hardy evergreen is a native North American conifer that thrives in a wide range of conditions. It features dense, aromatic foliage and provides excellent shelter for local birds. You will love how it brings a classic, rustic feel to your landscape.

Another photo of Eastern red cedar — Photo by Luke (CC BY) via gbif

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Evergreen conifer
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 15 to 45 feet
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 2 to 9
Bloom time: Early to mid spring

Care

Plant this tree in a spot with plenty of airflow to keep it healthy. Watch for browning needles, which can indicate cedar apple rust or poor drainage. It is quite drought tolerant once established in the ground.

Watering: Water deeply during the first year to help the roots establish.
Feeding: Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring if the soil is poor.
Pruning: Prune in late winter to shape the tree or remove dead branches.
Repotting: Only repot if you are keeping it as a container specimen.
Soil: Well draining, rocky, or clay soils
Soil pH: 6.0 to 8.0
Temperature: -40 to 35°C
Humidity: 30 to 70%
Drought tolerance: High
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 100 to 300 years.
Fragrance: Strong
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Water running straight through the pot without soaking in.
Stunted growth despite proper care.

Safety

People: The foliage and berries contain compounds that can cause irritation if ingested or handled by sensitive individuals.
Pets: The foliage and berries can be toxic to cats and dogs if ingested in large quantities.
Children: The sharp, needle like foliage can scratch young children, and the berries should be kept away from small mouths.
Contact allergens: The foliage can cause mild skin irritation or contact dermatitis in some people.
Airborne allergens: The pollen is a significant airborne allergen during the early spring months.
Edibility: The berries are technically cones and are not for human consumption due to potential toxicity and kidney irritation.

How to identify it

Scale like dark green leaves
Small blue berry like cones
Fibrous reddish brown bark
Pyramidal growth habit when young

Height: 5 to 15m
Spread: 2.5 to 6m
Leaves: dark green, blue green, evergreen
Flowers: yellow, brown, 0.2 to 0.5cm
Fruit: blue, gray, Late summer to winter

Problems to watch for

By symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: seed, cuttings
When to plant: spring, autumn
Overwintering: No special winter protection is needed as it is extremely cold hardy. Ensure the soil is well drained to prevent root rot during wet winter months.
In containers: It is not ideal for long term container growth due to its large size and deep root system.

Seed

Collect ripe blue berries in autumn.
Clean the pulp from the seeds.
Scarify the seed coat and cold stratify for 3 to 4 months before sowing.

Cuttings

Take semi hardwood cuttings in late summer.
Dip the base in rooting hormone.
Place in a well draining medium and keep humid until rooted.

Plant in groups to create a natural windbreak that provides shelter for birds throughout the winter.

Grows well with

Little bluestem · This grass thrives in the same dry, sunny conditions as the juniper.
Purple coneflower · It provides a colorful contrast and attracts pollinators to the same garden space.

Keep away from

Apple tree · The juniper acts as an alternate host for cedar apple rust, which severely damages apple trees.

Similar species

Rocky Mountain juniper · It occupies a similar ecological niche in the western United States.
Common juniper · It has a much wider, circumpolar distribution and a shrubby habit.

Science

Family: Cupressaceae
Genus: Juniperus
Order: Pinales
Class: Pinopsida
Native range: Eastern and central North America.
Conservation: This species is widespread and not of conservation concern.

It thrives in poor, rocky, or dry soils where other trees struggle to establish.

Value to wildlife: winter food source for birds, nesting cover, larval host for juniper hairstreak butterfly
Pollinators: bees, beetles
Uses: windbreak, wildlife habitat, privacy screen, erosion control

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 4/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Light: 8/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 3/9
Nutrients: 2/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Does it grow well in shade?: No, it requires full sun to maintain its density and health.
How fast does it grow?: It is considered a slow to moderate grower, typically adding 30 to 60 centimeters per year.

Where the name comes from

The species name virginiana refers to the Virginia colony where it was first described by European botanists. The common name eastern red cedar highlights its native range and the reddish hue of its heartwood.

Good to know

The wood is naturally rot resistant and famously used for cedar chests.
It is not a true cedar but a member of the cypress family.
The trees can live for several hundred years in ideal conditions.
Native Americans used the wood for bows and the berries for medicinal purposes.

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.