Eastern Redcedar
Juniperus virginiana
- Native to:
- Canada, Mexico, United States
GeoO
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Coniferophyta | - Conifers
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Genus:
- Juniperus
- Species:
- Juniperus virginiana
- USDA Symbol:
- JUVI
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 2000 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade,Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★★☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Argyresthia affinis, Argyresthia annettella, Argyresthia freyella, Argyresthia quadristrigella, Bagworm moth (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis), Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), Coleotechnites albicostata, Coleotechnites australis, Coleotechnites obliquistrigella, Coleotechnites occidentis, common eupithecia (Eupithecia miserulata), Cudonigera houstonana, Dichomeris marginella, Fall webworm (Hyphantria cunea), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis), Juniper-twig geometer (Patalene olyzonaria), Periploca nigra, Semiothisa atrofasciata, Semiothisa continuata, Synaxis jubararia, White-marked Tussock Moth (Orgyia leucostigma), Eastern Tailed-Blue (Incisalia niphon), 🛑Hessel's hairstreak (Mitoura hesseli), Juniper Hairstreak (Mitoura grynea), Siva Hairstreak (Mitoura siva)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Hummingbirds: Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) Moths:Bagworm moth (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis), Juniper-twig geometer (Patalene olyzonaria) Butterflies:Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia), Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Thin-barked and fire-sensitive when young, but mature trees can survive low-intensity fires. Historically suppressed by frequent prairie fires; absence of fire allows encroachment into grasslands.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rocky, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 6.0 - 8.0 (slightly acidic to alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- Thrives in a variety of soil types, including clay, loam, and sandy soils.
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 90–120 days
- Germination Time:
- 30–90 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require warm stratification (60-90 days) followed by cold stratification (90-120 days). Germination is often erratic and may take multiple seasons.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are cold stratified for 30 to 120 days. Some protocols suggest natural stratification by planting in the fall.
Establishment: Seeds are collected from various sources, including wild collection and commercial purchase. There is some variation in the depth of sowing and field density between protocols. J. virginiana is found in a variety of locations and soil types across North America.
Source: npn.rngr.net