Eastern Red Cedar is a familiar tree across much of eastern North America, often recognized by its distinctive scent and appearance. Despite its common name, which includes the word “cedar,” this tree frequently causes confusion regarding its actual botanical identity. This common naming can be misleading, as scientific classification reveals a different botanical lineage for this widely distributed species.
Understanding Its True Identity
Eastern Red Cedar is not a true cedar, despite its widespread common name. It belongs to the genus Juniperus, and its scientific name is Juniperus virginiana. The use of “cedar” in its common name likely stems from its aromatic wood and superficial resemblances to true cedars, which led early European settlers to apply familiar names to new species. The cypress family, Cupressaceae, includes both junipers and other species sometimes colloquially called cedars, which further contributes to this naming complexity.
Juniperus virginiana is a distinct species within the juniper genus, which is separate from the genus Cedrus that encompasses true cedars. Understanding this botanical distinction clarifies that while it shares a common descriptor, Eastern Red Cedar is fundamentally a juniper.
Key Characteristics of Eastern Red Cedar
Juniperus virginiana exhibits several defining physical characteristics that aid in its identification. Its foliage typically consists of two forms: sharp, spreading, needle-like leaves on seedlings and new growth, and tightly overlapping, scale-like leaves on mature branches. These leaves often have a blue-green hue and are aromatic, sometimes turning a bronze color during colder months. The bark of the Eastern Red Cedar is reddish-brown, fibrous, and tends to peel off in long, narrow strips.
The tree’s reproductive structures are also distinctive. Eastern Red Cedar is typically dioecious, meaning male and female cones are borne on separate trees. Female trees produce small, fleshy, berry-like cones that are dark purple-blue with a waxy, sky-blue coating when mature. These cones, often referred to as “juniper berries,” ripen in the fall and are an important food source for wildlife. The tree generally grows with a conical or columnar habit, reaching heights between 40 and 70 feet, and some specimens have been known to live for hundreds of years.
Distinguishing Eastern Red Cedar from True Cedars
Differentiating Eastern Red Cedar from true cedars (genus Cedrus) involves examining specific botanical features. True cedars, such as the Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani), Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara), and Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica), are native to mountainous regions of the Himalayas and the Mediterranean. They are known for their majestic size and broad, often tiered, growth habits.
A primary distinction lies in their foliage and cones. True cedars possess needle-like leaves arranged in dense clusters or rosettes on short woody pegs, in contrast to the predominantly scale-like leaves of Eastern Red Cedar. Their cones are also significantly different; they are large, woody, barrel-shaped structures that sit upright on the branches and disintegrate at maturity, scattering their winged seeds. Conversely, Eastern Red Cedar produces small, fleshy, berry-like cones. These botanical differences show why Eastern Red Cedar, despite its common name, is correctly classified as a juniper.