Juniperus virginiana (Eastern redcedar)

Juniperus virginiana L.

Eastern redcedar, red cedar, Eastern juniper, red juniper, pencil cedar, Eastern red cedar

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Coniferophyta	Conifers—cone-bearing trees (and a few shrubs)
Class	Pinopsida	Gymnosperms such as cedars, Douglas-firs, cypresses, firs, junipers, kauri, larches, pines, hemlocks, redwoods, spruces, and yews
Order	Pinales	Cone-bearing plants: cedar, cypress, fir, juniper, larch, pine, redwood, spruce, yew, and others
Family	Cupressaceae	Cypres family, including junipers and redwoods
Genus	Juniperus	Latin for “juniper”
Species	virginiana	“From Virginia”

About plant names...

Eastern redcedar is native to eastern North America. For a taste of the truly bizarre, check out this cedar apple rust. It is a fungus that grows only on this cedar and goes through an amazing life cycle.

Identification: These cedars range from bush height to 66' (20 m). They are common, and grow in a wide range of soils. Bark is red-brown. Leaves are composed of heavily branched wiry filaments about ¹/₁₆" (2 mm) in diameter. If you inspect the leaves carefully, they are made up of a series of overlapping scales. Cones appear to be dark blue berries, often appearing lighter and powdery or waxy on the surfaces. They are about ¼-½" (6.3-12 mm) in diameter, and very numerous.

Online References:

Juniperus virginiana on www.carolinanature.com

Juniperus virginiana on hort.purdue.edu

Juniperus virginiana on Discover Life

Juniperus virginiana on Wikipedia

Juniperus virginiana on The Gymnosperm Database

Juniperus virginiana at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Juniperus virginiana at the University of Connecticut Plant Database

Juniperus virginiana at the Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation

Juniperus virginiana at the USDA Forest Service's Silvics of North America site

Juniperus virginiana on Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

Juniperus virginiana on eFloras

2/14/2012 · Halibut Point State Park, Rockport, MA
≈ 31 × 46" (78 × 117 cm)

3/10/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, MA
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 11 cm) ID is uncertain

2/14/2012 · Halibut Point State Park, Rockport, MA
≈ 6 × 4" (15 × 10 cm)

6/13/2011 · Great Falls State Park, Washington, DC
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 11 cm) ID is uncertain

10/5/2010 · Susan and Raimond’s, Phoenix, MD
≈ 5 × 8" (13 × 19 cm) ID is uncertain

2/14/2012 · Halibut Point State Park, Rockport, MA
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 11 cm)

10/20/2012 · By Jacquelyn Boyt

11/29/2009 · Rail Trail, Ayer, MA
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 11 cm) ID is uncertain

Juniperus virginiana description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

10/5/2010 · Susan and Raimond’s, Phoenix, MD
≈ 16 × 24" (41 × 62 cm) ID is uncertain

3/10/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, MA ID is uncertain

6/13/2011 · Great Falls State Park, Washington, DC
≈ 8 × 5" (19 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain

11/29/2009 · Rail Trail, Ayer, MA
≈ 10 × 12" (24 × 29 cm) ID is uncertain

10/20/2012 · By Jacquelyn Boyt

7/5/2010 · Tarrywile Park and Mansion, Danbury, CT
≈ 8 × 5" (19 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain

10/5/2010 · Susan and Raimond’s, Phoenix, MD
≈ 5 × 3½" (13 × 9.2 cm) ID is uncertain

7/15/2020 · Stansbury Mill Rd, Phoenix, MD

7/5/2010 · Tarrywile Park and Mansion, Danbury, CT
≈ 4½ × 3" (11 × 7.9 cm) ID is uncertain

4/3/2011 · Susan & Raimond’s, Phoenix, MD
≈ 5 × 3½" (13 × 9.2 cm) ID is uncertain

11/29/2009 · Rail Trail, Ayer, MA
≈ 7 × 4½" (17 × 11 cm) ID is uncertain

2/14/2012 · Halibut Point State Park, Rockport, MA
≈ 3½ × 2½' (1.2 × 0.8 m)

Range:

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