Eastern Red Cedar
Juniperus virginiana · Cupressaceae (Cypress family)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrect
Leaf Morphology
Leaf Type
Specialized (scale-like and needle-like leaves), evergreen
Shape
Small, tightly overlapping scale-like leaves and sharp needle-like juvenile leaves arranged on branching sprays
Margin
Entire (smooth edges on individual scales)
Arrangement
Opposite pairs or whorled in threes of tiny scale-like leaves closely appressed to the stem
Venation
Parallel or obscure venation typical of conifer scale leaves
Key Features
Reddish peeling bark, highly aromatic foliage when crushed, dimorphic foliage (juvenile sharp needles and mature scale-like leaves), and blue-ish female seed cones
Description
An evergreen conifer forming a dense, aromatic tree or large shrub with reddish-brown fibrous bark that peels in strips. It features intricate sprays of aromatic foliage and produces small, fleshy, blue-ish berry-like cones that resemble berries.
Habitat
Thrives in varied soils from poor dry limestone glades to moist old fields; highly adaptable, frequently found as a pioneer species in abandoned agricultural lands
Native Range
Native to eastern North America, ranging from southeastern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico and east of the Great Plains