The Eastern Red Cedar is one of the most widespread confierous evergreens in the Eastern US, growing over most of the Eastern half of the country. This tree in some areas is considered a weed, though does has a lot of benefits and is essential for the environment. The berry like cones produce food for wildlife (especially birds), and since they are evergreen help stop erosion in disturbed/poor sites. These trees typically germinate in open sunny areas where drainage is excellent. Even in areas with heavy clay slopes dry very quickly so this Juniper will take over like a weed. I have seen them growing on the edge of limestone and rock in Southern Indiana and Kentucky and they essentially help prevent erosion as they can grow in the driest and more difficult soils. Surprisingly enough they can also tolerate moist soils, but will rot in wet soils. Evergreen trees provide energy to the soil in wintertime that deciduous trees don't, this is the main reason evergreens are so great at erosion control especially on hilly or rocky sites. They also make a great screening tree in open sites as well. Many cultivars exist for ornamental purposes in landscaping. Consider planting a native Eastern Red Cedar to help the planet!
Bird eating Juniper berries
Planted as a screen
Mature speciemen
Mature speciemens at a cemetery
#1 Wild speciemens to help soil and erosion on slope
#2
Cultivar 'Taylor' is an upright form similar to Italian Cypress. Grows 30' tall by only 3' wide at maturity.
Cultivar 'Canaerti' has branches growing outward in all directions to have a wildly look
Cultivar 'Grey Owl' is a true dwarf form. It is a low groundcover like shrub that has greyish/blue foliage that matures to 2' tall by 6' wide.
Native Range including southern variety that goes down though Central Florida, along part of the East Coast and over to Eastern Texas.
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