Eastern Red Cedar
Evergreen tree growing 9-20 m tall with a pyramidal to columnar form. Features scale-like leaves and produces small, blue, berry-like cones. Adaptable to various soil conditions and full sun. Extremely drought-tolerant. Provides year-round cover and food for wildlife. Wood is aromatic and rot-resistant. Suitable for windbreaks, erosion control, and as a native evergreen in challenging sites. Native to eastern and central North America.
Plant Details
Bloom Colour: N/A (Conifer)
Bloom Time: N/A (Conifer)
Sun Requirements: Sun
Moisture: Dry to Moist-Drained
Phenology: Evergreen foliage year-round. New growth emerges May. Cones develop blue and fleshy, maturing September-October, persisting through winter.
Wildlife Value: Critical wildlife tree; berries eaten by >50 bird species; essential winter cover and nesting sites; larval host for Juniper Hairstreak butterfly
Habit Over Time: Forms a dense, pyramidal to columnar tree that gradually develops a more open, irregular form with age. Lower branches typically persist unless shaded out, creating a full profile to the ground. While it doesn't spread vegetatively, it may self-seed in open areas. The dense evergreen growth provides strong vertical structure and wildlife shelter year-round.
Height: Medium to Tall (30-65 feet)