Eastern Redcedar
 

Mature Size, Growth, Longevity

Average mature size of 40-50' tall and 8-20' wide. Has been found as large as 60' tall and 75' wide. Pyramidal when young, but more pendulous with age. Sometimes assumes a more columnar to broadly pyramidal shape. Medium growth rate. This tree has a long life potential of about 300 years.

Native Range

Kentucky Native — Native to East and central North America, east of the Rocky Mountains. Introduced before 1664.

Flower and Fruit Details

Flowers are usually dioecious but may have monoecious flowers on occasion, male flower cones are yellow-brown, swell and release pollen February/March into April. Female flower cones are green or reddish-purple. Fruits are ornamental, berry-like, globular or ovoid cones, up to 0.25" across, brownish-violet to gray-blue, glaucous bloomy, ripening in the first season, containing 1 to 2 seeds, ovoid, small, apex is blunt-angular, deeply pitted, shining brown.

Leaf and Bark Features

Evergreen: Juvenile leaves in pairs. Leaves (scales) are medium green, sage-green to blue-green in summer, becoming bronze to yellow-brown in winter, but variable from tree to tree. Also has some pointed awl-like foliage. Crushed needles smell like a cedar chest. Notable Bark: Bark is a handsome grayish to reddish brown, exfoliating in long strips.

Culture and Care

Prefers a sunny, airy location, and a deep moist loam on well-drained subsoil, but tolerates adverse conditions, poor gravelly soils, clay, acid and high pH soils. pH range 6.1-8.0. Actually thrives in limestone-based soils. Try to avoid soil compaction. Zones 3-9. Susceptible to cedar apple rust and bagworms.

Strengths, Weaknesses, Other Facts

A hardy, tough plant for most soils. Sturdy branches hold up well to wind and ice storms. This is the most widespread of the very few evergreen trees/shrubs native to Northern Kentucky. 4-season interest: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter. The wood is used for cedar chests, pencils, closet liners, carving, and small ornamental work. The truly ornamental plants of this species are the cultivars.

Suggested Uses

An excellent specimen, grouping, and screening plant if used with consideration of color combinations; useful for windbreaks, shelter belts, hedges, and topiary work.

Taxa and Plants of this Species at BCA