Eastern red cedar
You have an eastern red cedar.
Juniperus virginiana
Eastern red cedar
Juniperus virginiana is native to eastern North America, from southeastern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. Eastern red cedar is a small evergreen that grows 16 to 66 feet tall. The aromatic, rot-resistant wood deters moths and is used to line closets and clothes chests. This tree is not a true cedar but a member of the juniper family and closely related to Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum).
Key Path Summary:
- Leaves are scalelike, no more than twice as long as wide.
- Branchlets are green.
- Branchlets are prickly when rubbed down from the tip.
The 15 Species
All 15 species grown commercially as holiday trees in the United States and Canada are included in the key. Select a species below to see photos and learn more.
