Southern Red Cedar
Juniperus silicicola
You may be surprised to learn that the Southern Red Cedar is not, in fact, a Cedar at all. In reality, it is a part of the hardy juniper family.
Though these “cedars” are tough at heart, they’re soft in appearance, with feathery emerald green foliage that remains a lush green year round and requires very little maintenance.
Sometimes referred to as the Coast Juniper, Southern Red Cedar are tolerant of salt, drought, and wind. They prefer well drained, sandy soils and grow well in full to partial sun.
Though most Southern Red Cedars are pyramidal in shape and are foliated to the ground, as they age, they can become more open, revealing a textured trunk, flat top, and
irregular shape. Some specimens reach 40 feet high, though most grow to be between 25-30 feet tall.
While Southern Red Cedars are beautiful when placed along a path or driveway. They also make a great choice for a tall hedge that offers both privacy and a break from high winds or as a single planting.
Ornamental Characteristics:
Native Origin:
Southeastern United States
Common Names:
Southern Red Cedar, Red Cedar, Eastern Red Cedar, Coast Juniper
Description:
Hardy Range: 8A to 10B
Mature Height: 25 to 40’
Mature Spread: 20 to 30’
Growth Rate: fast
Form: pyramidal
Persistence: evergreen
Ornamental Characteristics:
Densely packed, soft, feathery foliage growing upward. Single trunk with branches full to the ground. Does not flower, but has extremely small, bluish “berries,” which are actually the cones of the tree. Bark is reddish brown and cinnamon colors, peeling from the trunk over time. As the trees age, the trunk becomes more visible and lends an ornamental aspect of its own.
Environment:
Soil: well-drained; loamy, sandy or clay
Salt: medium
Exposure: partial sun to full sun
