Native Plant Database

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Size Class: 36-72 ft.
Fruit Type: Cone
Leaf Color: Green
Fruit Color: Black, Blue

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Green , Purple , Brown
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CO , CT , DE , FL , GA , IL , IN , IA , KS , KY , LA , ME , MD , MA , MI , MN , MS , MO , NE , NH , NJ , NY , NC , ND , OH , OK , OR , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VT , VA , WV , WI , DC
Canada: MB , NS , ON , QC
Native Distribution: N.S. to SD, s. to n. FL & c. TX
Native Habitat: Fence rows, Woodlands edge, Opening, Prairie, Plains, Meadows, Pastures, Savannahs
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil pH: Circumneutral (pH 6.8-7.2)
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Cold Tolerant: yes
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Dry, limestone soils (adaptable). Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam Clay Loam, Clay, Rocky, Limestone-based, Caliche type.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Grown for Christmas trees, shelterbelts, and in many cultivated varieties for ornament.
Use Wildlife: The juicy berries are consumed by many kinds of wildlife, including the cedar waxwing, named for this tree. The fruits are a staple for many birds and small mammals. Also provides nesting material and cover.
Use Food: Juniper tea can be made by placing a dozen young berryless twigs in a quart of cold water; bring to a boil then allow to simmer for 10 minutes. Strain and use as regular tea, in small quantities. (Poisonous Plants of N.C.) The earliest colonists recognized the value of the Virginia Juniper from the start - for fences and shingles, benches and tables, coffins and the superstructures of boats. (Peattie)
Use Medicinal: Tea of fruits and leaves for coughs and colds. Berries chewed for canker sores in mouth. (Kindscher) Creeks and Choctaws drank oil from red cedar berries for dysentery. Boiled fruit and leaves make a drink for colds and coughs. Smoke from smoldering leafy twigs inhaled for head colds. Kiowas chewed berries and held liquid in mouth as a mild antiseptic rinse. An unnamed part of this juniper was used by Natchez as a specific for mumps.(Weiner) Zuni women took juniper berries to promote uterine recovery after childbirth. Treated wound infections and arthritis. (Castleman) Smoke from the leaves as was used as an inhalant to treat Colds, Bronchitis and Rheumatism. It is thought to contain an anticancer agent, podophyllocotoxin. Fruit tea used for colds, worms, rheumatism, coughs, induce sweating. Leaf smoke or steam inhaled for colds, bronchitis, rheumatism.
Use Other: The aromatic wood is used for fenceposts, cedar chests, cabinetwork, and carvings. Cedar oil for medicine and perfumes is obtained from the wood and leaves. The heartwood was once almost exclusively the source of wood for pencils; Incense Cedar ( Calocedrus decurrens Torr.) is now used instead. Incense for purification and ritual.
Warning: POISONOUS PARTS: Fleshy cones (resembles berries), leaves. Low toxicity when ingested; large amounts may cause diarrhea. Toxic Principle: Volatile oils including thujone.
Interesting Foliage: yes
Fragrant Foliage: yes
Attracts: Birds , Butterflies
Larval Host: Olive butterfly.

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
Description: Seed can be sown outdoors in fall or stratified and sown in spring. Seed germination is often poor, so a large quantity of seeds should be sown. Selected forms have been rooted from cuttings.
Seed Collection: Collect seeds from late summer through fall when it has turned its ripe color. Thoroughly dry and clean seeds to avoid mold and overheating. If not planting immediately, air dry before storing. Store in sealed containers at 20-40 degrees.
Seed Treatment: Stratify at 41 degrees for 30-120 days.
Commercially Avail: yes

PlantWise: Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants

Juniperus virginiana (Eastern redcedar) is a PlantWise native alternative for:

   Casuarina equisetifolia (beach sheoak)
   Taxus cuspidata (Japanese yew)

Find Seed or Plants

View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Question: I've heard eucalyptus trees do not lose their leaves in the winter and grow considerably tall. I want to replace a decaying pine tree with a eucalyptus tree. Do you recommend that for the Spring, TX area climate.
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Question: Mr. Smarty Plants, Please recommend a tall, thick shrub to conceal the 6 foot chain link fence around the perimeter of our property. The fence is located down a hill from our home with western exposure and full sun. While we can run a soaker hose down there to establish the roots, I would love to have tall shrubs that will conceal the fence, act as a noise barrier from the street and require no watering throughout the summer. Is there such a plant? The nursery recommended red tip photinias but after reading your article about disease with these plants, I'm reconsidering. Thank you for your advice.
click here to view the full question and answer

Question: I am looking for a hardy evergreen hedge for privacy in Northern Michigan. I have sandy soil. Also am interested in planting a drought garden with mostly sun in same sandy soil.
click here to view the full question and answer

Question: I'm seeking a small-medium, ornamental, fairly compact, evergreen shrub to complement my front yard woodland wildflower garden. I want a shrub that will flank both sides of my front porch steps. I want something that is not to "rangy" or broad in growth.
click here to view the full question and answer

Question: Is there some kind of drought resistant bush or thorny plant we can rim our property with to stop all the foot traffic through our yard? We don't care if it's pretty, just something thick and/or thorny to stop people wandering through our property day and night. We have over an acre lot which is near IH35 and would like some privacy. We have bamboo on one side which works nicely, but can this be transplanted to grow on the empty side of our yard? Thank you!
click here to view the full question and answer

From the National Suppliers Directory

According to the inventory provided by Associate Suppliers, this plant is available at the following locations:

Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Native Plant Nursery - Sanibel, FL

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Delaware Nature Society - Hockessin, DE
Pineywoods Native Plant Center - Nacogdoches, TX
Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX

Bibliography

Earth Medicine, Earth Food (1990) Michael A. Weiner
Edible wild plants of the prairie : an ethnobotanical guide (1987) Kindscher, K.
Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America (2000) Foster, S. & J. A. Duke
Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest (1991) Miller, G.O.
Native & Naturalized Woody Plants of Austin & the Hill Country (1981) Lynch, D.
* Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.
* Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender
The New Healing Herbs (1995) Michael Castleman
Trees of Central Texas (1984) Vines, R. A.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Additional resources

USDA: Find Juniperus virginiana in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Juniperus virginiana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Juniperus virginiana