
Jess Cole
Eastern Red Cedar, Juniperus virginiana
Eastern Red Cedar, Juniperus virginiana
In February, nearly every deciduous leaf has fallen, and the evergreens stand boldly—lush, solitary greens scattered across the forest vista. Hollies, magnolias, yaupons, and one of my favorite trees of all, the Eastern Red Cedar. This tree is magnificent. It shows up on my property the moment you reach the top of the ridge and step away from the low moist areas. This forever-green beauty grows tall and wide, and is excellent as a single specimen or in a collection. The evergreen nature of the tree makes her an ideal green fence for privacy or a solo focal point year-round. I love collecting small branches from my trees as they fall for fence posts, arches, or arbors. Partnering with the red cedar is a fun creative endeavor within the garden as the wood is dense, aromatic, and rot resistant. The tree is also an important habitat for wildlife, yielding enormous amounts of fruit to be feasted on. I love watching the cedar wax wings flock to the tree. Legend has it, the Eastern Red Cedar is responsible for the namesake of Baton Rouge, “The Red Stick.” Thank you Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville.