The Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is a widespread evergreen tree found across much of eastern North America. Despite its common name, it is actually a species of juniper and a member of the cypress family, not a true cedar. The tree is highly adaptable, thriving in environments from rocky outcrops to abandoned fields. Identification involves observing its unique foliage, fibrous bark, berry-like cones, and the striking coloration of its inner wood.
Foliage and Overall Shape
The Eastern Red Cedar is recognized by its dense, conical, or columnar shape, which often remains narrow and pyramidal, especially in younger trees. Mature specimens typically reach heights between 16 and 66 feet.
The evergreen foliage often displays two distinct leaf types on the same tree. Mature growth features small, scale-like leaves tightly pressed against the stem, measuring about one-sixteenth of an inch long. Young plants and new shoots bear sharp, spreading, needle-like leaves that are longer, sometimes reaching a quarter of an inch. The foliage appears dark green to blue-green in warmer months, but frequently takes on a dull bronze or purplish hue during the cold temperatures of winter.
Bark and Trunk Texture
The trunk of the Eastern Red Cedar is often short, sometimes becoming fluted and buttressed at the base in older specimens. The bark is reddish-brown to grayish-brown and relatively thin, contributing to the tree’s overall reddish appearance. A defining texture is its tendency to exfoliate in long, narrow, fibrous strips.
This shedding quality makes the bark appear shaggy or shredded on mature trees. When the outer reddish-brown layer peels away, it reveals a lighter, sometimes ashy-gray color beneath. The wood beneath the bark is highly durable and resistant to decay, making it historically favored for fence posts.
Cones and Berries
The reproductive structures of the Eastern Red Cedar are distinct and contribute significantly to its visual identification. The species is mostly dioecious, meaning individual trees bear either male or female cones. Male trees produce small, yellowish-brown pollen cones that appear in late winter or early spring.
Female trees produce small, fleshy, berry-like cones, often mistakenly called berries. These cones start light green, maturing into a dark purple-blue color, measuring approximately one-eighth to a quarter of an inch in diameter. They are covered with a pale, waxy coating, known as a glaucous bloom, which gives them an overall sky-blue or bluish-white appearance. These “juniper berries” are an important food source for various birds and small mammals throughout the winter.
The Wood’s Distinctive Color
The name “red cedar” directly relates to the striking coloration of the tree’s internal wood structure. When the tree is cut, the heartwood—the dense, non-living inner portion of the trunk—exhibits a vibrant reddish-purple or pinkish-red hue. This deep color often features streaks of reddish-brown, creating an attractive grain pattern that is highly valued.
The vividly colored heartwood contrasts sharply with the sapwood, the living outer layer of the wood, which is narrow and nearly white or pale cream. This color difference provides a natural visual border within the trunk. The heartwood also possesses a strong, pleasant, and highly aromatic scent due to natural oils concentrated within it. This distinctive fragrance is the reason the wood is traditionally used for lining closets and chests, as the aroma is known to repel insects.