Summary ⁴

Juniperus virginiana (Eastern Red-cedar,Red Cedar, Eastern Juniper, Red Juniper, Pencil Cedar) is a species of juniper native to eastern North America from southeastern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico and east of the Great Plains. Further west it is replaced by the related Juniperus scopulorum (Rocky Mountain Juniper) and to the southwest by Juniperus ashei (Ashe Juniper).

Associated forest cover ⁵

Pure stands of eastern redcedar are scattered throughout the primary  range of the species. Most of these stands are on abandoned farm lands or  drier upland sites. The forest cover type Eastern Redcedar (Society of  American Foresters Type 46) is widespread and therefore has many  associates (10).

    Variants of the type are eastern redcedar-pine, eastern  redcedar-hardwood, and eastern redcedar-pine-hardwood. The eastern  redcedar-pine variant is composed of eastern redcedar and either shortleaf  pine (Pinus echinata) or Virginia pine (P. virginiana) and  is found throughout the southern half of its range. The eastern  redcedar-hardwood variant is found throughout the central part of its  range and includes a mixture of red (Quercus rubra) and white (Q.  alba) oaks, hickories (Carya spp.), black walnut (Juglans  nigra), and other hardwoods. The third variant, eastern  redcedar-pine-hardwood, includes all of the above species associations  (15). Eastern redcedar appears as a minor component of several other  forest cover types.

    Eastern redcedar is among the first to invade abandoned fields and areas  cleared for pasture (25). On deeper soils, persimmon (Diospyros  virginiana) and sassafras (Sassafras albidum) are associated  invaders and may crowd it out. In cedar glades, the species is commonly  associated with blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica), winged elm  (Ulmus alata), fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica), Carolina  buckthorn (Rhamnus caroliniana), rusty blackhaw (Viburnum  rufidulum), and Alabama supplejack (Berchemia scandens). Little  bluestem (Andropogon scoparius), big bluestem (A. gerardi),  yellow Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), switchgrass (Panicum  virgatum), dropseed (Sporobolus spp.), and numerous composites  and legumes are common herbaceous plants.

Broad scale impacts of fire ⁶

More info for the terms: prescribed fire, tree

Eastern redcedar seedlings and saplings are very susceptible to fire; they may be eliminated from a site following winter or spring prescribed burning [5,6]. Eastern redcedar mortality decreases as tree size increases, due to relatively thicker bark, sparse fine fuels beneath the canopy, and greater vertical distance of the upper foliage from lethal temperatures [25,37,57,93,94,95]. In a Nebraska prescribed fire study, eastern redcedar height-class mortality means were [94]:

Height-class Mortality <3.3 feet (1 m) 88% 3.3 to 6.6 feet (1-2 m) 60% 6.6 to 9.9 feet (2-3 m) 35% >9.9 feet (3 m) 10%

In Leavenworth Barrens Nature Preserve, Indiana, low-severity spring prescribed burns, exhibiting irregular burn patterns, were only effective in killing small diameter eastern redcedar (1.5 inches (4 cm) basal diameter), while larger trees were unaffected [1]. A study of prescribed fire in a Missouri eastern redcedar glade found that spring burning killed all trees up to 1.5 feet (0.5 m) tall but only 7% of the trees taller than 6.5 feet (2 m) [85].

Climate ⁷

The wide natural distribution of eastern redcedar clearly indicates its  ability to grow under varying and extreme climatic conditions. Average  annual precipitation varies from about 380 mm (15 in) in the northwestern  section to 1520 mm (60 in) in the southern parts of its range (40).  Throughout the eastern redcedar range, average precipitation from April  through September measures from 380 mm (15 in) to 760 mm (30 in). This  suggests that summer precipitation may be more limiting to the species  than average annual precipitation. Average annual snowfall ranges from a  trace to more than 254 cm (100 in).

    Average annual temperatures vary from about 4° C (40° F) in  the north to 20° C (68° F) in the southern part of the botanical  range. Average annual maximum temperature ranges only from about 32°  C (90° F) to 41° C (105° F), but average minimum  temperature ranges from -43° C (-45° F) to -7° C (20°  F). The growing season varies from about 120 to 250 days.

Description ⁸

General: Cypress Family (Cupressaceae). Red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is a medium-sized dioecious or rarely monoecious tree from 10-20 m (33-66') tall (M^cGregor et al. 1986, Stephens 1973). The evergreen tree is shaped like a pyramid or column, with reddish-brown to grayish colored bark that is fibrous and shedding. Branches are usually reddish-brown. Leave are opposite, simple, green or blue-green, closely appressed and overlapping the leaf above, scale-like, and 0.2-0.3 cm (1/16-1/8”) long or needlelike and 0.6-1.2 cm (1/4-1/2”) long. Male and female cones are on separate trees. The staminate (male) cones are yellowish-brown, papery, solitary at the tips of branchlets, ovoid to ellipsoid, and 0.2-0.4 cm (1/16-1/8”) long. The ovulate (female) cones are solitary at the tips of branchlets, dark blue or bluish-purple, waxy and berrylike, 0.4-0.7 cm (3/16-1/4”) long. The female cones ripen from September through October. There are 1-3 seeds per cone. Red cedar seeds are yellow-brown and round, 2-4 mm in diameter, ridged near the base, and sometimes shallowly pitted.

Fire ecology ⁹

More info for the terms: density, fire frequency, fire suppression, frequency, fuel, litter

Fire adaptations: Eastern redcedar does not survive on sites subject to frequent fire [131].

FIRE REGIMES: Eastern redcedar frequently occurs on sites topographically and edaphically protected from fire, including bluffs, rocky hillsides, shale barrens of Virginia and West Virginia, limestone glades of Tennessee, Virginia, Missouri and Arkansas; serpentine barrens of Pennsylvania and Maryland; sandstone cliffs; granite outcrops; sand dunes; and estuarine swamps [29]. Sites where eastern redcedar occurs as a persistent dominant are unlikely to support frequent fire due to rocky, shallow soils and low fuel loads [24]. On shallow soils where litter accumulation is limited, the lack of fuel protects many eastern redcedar stands even where fire occurrence is high [46]. However, in the absence of fire on adjoining uplands, eastern redcedar has been able to spread from these clifftop areas and invade uplands where it occupies a successional role [24]. On deep soils, competing vegetation produces enough litter to support fire. Sufficient fuels to carry fire are usually available on grasslands and old agricultural fields, and a single fire may remove eastern redcedar from a site [46].

Fire suppression has resulted in the invasion of eastern redcedar into grasslands and savannas [58,131]. In areas that once burned periodically, eastern redcedar was protected from fire on dry or rocky sites lacking sufficient herbaceous fuel to carry fire. As fire frequency decreased, eastern redcedar invaded adjacent and apparently stable plant communities. Subsequently, individual eastern redcedars have increased in size and coverage, and stand density has increased. Large trees and dense stands shade or otherwise inhibit growth of desired herbaceous vegetation [29]. In as little as 30 years after a fire, a treeless pasture can be converted to a closed canopy eastern redcedar forest [67,131].

A study of a cedar glade in southern Missouri found that fires occurred every 3.2 years during the presettlement period (1630-1870). After 1870, fire frequency decreased to 22 years [58]. In a post oak savanna in southern Missouri, a study of fire scars on post oak, shortleaf pine, and eastern redcedar indicated a mean fire free interval of 4.3 years between 1700 and 1810. The period between 1785 and 1810 showed the most extensive evidence of fire, and fire frequency declined after 1860 (coincident with European settlement) [57].

FIRE REGIMES for plant communities and ecosystems where eastern redcedar is a common associate are summarized below.

Community or Ecosystem Dominant Species Fire Return Interval Range (years) maple-beech-birch Acer-Fagus-Betula > 1000 sugar maple Acer saccharum > 1000 sugar maple-basswood Acer saccharum-Tilia americana > 1000 [131] bluestem prairie Andropogon gerardii var. gerardii-Schizachyrium scoparium 74,97] Nebraska sandhills prairie Andropogon gerardii var. paucipilus-Schizachyrium scoparium 97] plains grasslands Bouteloua spp. 97,138] blue grama-needle-and-thread grass-western wheatgrass Bouteloua gracilis-Hesperostipa comata-Pascopyrum smithii 97,107,138] sugarberry-America elm-green ash Celtis laevigata-Ulmus americana-Fraxinus pennsylvanica < 35 to 200 Atlantic white-cedar Chamaecyparis thyoides 35 to > 200 beech-sugar maple Fagus spp.-Acer saccharum > 1000 [131] juniper-oak savanna Juniperus ashei-Quercus virginiana < 35 Ashe juniper Juniperus ashei < 35 cedar glades Juniperus virginiana 3-22 [58,97] yellow-poplar Liriodendron tulipifera 131] wheatgrass plains grasslands Pascopyrum smithii 97,100,138] jack pine Pinus banksiana 34] shortleaf pine Pinus echinata 2-15 shortleaf pine-oak Pinus echinata-Quercus spp. < 10 slash pine Pinus elliottii 3-8 slash pine-hardwood Pinus elliottii-variable 131] longleaf-slash pine Pinus palustris-P. elliottii 1-4 [89,131] longleaf pine-scrub oak Pinus palustris-Quercus spp. 6-10 [131] red pine (Great Lakes region) Pinus resinosa 10-200 (10*) [34,48] red-white-jack pine Pinus resinosa-P. strobus-P. banksiana 10-300 [34,66] pocosin Pinus serotina 3-8 eastern white pine Pinus strobus 35-200 eastern white pine-eastern hemlock Pinus strobus-Tsuga canadensis 35-200 eastern white pine-northern red oak-red maple Pinus strobus-Quercus rubra-Acer rubrum 35-200 loblolly pine Pinus taeda 3-8 loblolly-shortleaf pine Pinus taeda-P. echinata 10 to < 35 Virginia pine Pinus virginiana 10 to < 35 Virginia pine-oak Pinus virginiana-Quercus spp. 10 to < 35 sycamore-sweetgum-American elm Platanus occidentalis-Liquidambar styraciflua-Ulmus americana 131] eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides 97] aspen-birch Populus tremuloides-Betula papyrifera 35-200 [34,131] black cherry-sugar maple Prunus serotina-Acer saccharum > 1000 oak-hickory Quercus-Carya spp. < 35 northeastern oak-pine Quercus-Pinus spp. 10 to < 35 southeastern oak-pine Quercus-Pinus spp. < 10 white oak-black oak-northern red oak Quercus alba-Q. velutina-Q. rubra < 35 northern pin oak Quercus ellipsoidalis < 35 bear oak Quercus ilicifolia < 35 > bur oak Quercus macrocarpa 131] oak savanna Quercus macrocarpa/Andropogon gerardii-Schizachyrium scoparium 2-14 [97,131] shinnery Quercus mohriana 97] chestnut oak Q. prinus 3-8 northern red oak Quercus rubra 10 to < 35 post oak-blackjack oak Quercus stellata-Q. marilandica < 10 black oak Quercus velutina < 35 live oak Quercus virginiana 10 to131] little bluestem-grama prairie Schizachyrium scoparium-Bouteloua spp. 97] eastern hemlock-yellow birch Tsuga canadensis-Betula alleghaniensis > 200 [131] elm-ash-cottonwood Ulmus-Fraxinus-Populus spp. 34,131] *fire return interval varies widely; trends in variation are noted in the species summary
**mean

Fire management considerations ¹⁰

More info for the terms: backfire, crown fire, density, fire intensity, fire severity, fuel, headfire, litter, prescribed fire, resistance, severity, tree

In the absence of fire, eastern redcedar thrives and may eventually dominate prairie or forest vegetation [1,5,13,17]. Prescribed fire is generally effective at controlling eastern redcedar invasion in grasslands [13,77]. Spring burning is appropriate for eastern redcedar treatment because leaf water content is relatively low in late spring [38]. Spring burns usually kill eastern redcedar up to 3.3 feet (1 m) tall [25,29,73,85], though larger trees up to 20 feet (6 m) are occasionally killed [95]. In an Illinois barren community, eastern redcedar seedlings and saplings were eliminated for at least 20 years following a spring prescribed fire [5]. In a Tennessee study over 20 years, eastern redcedar establishment was prevented using late winter prescribed surface fires annually and at 5-year intervals. On sites without fire treatment, eastern redcedar was recruited [32]. On a Texas site, prescribed burning reduced eastern redcedar from an average preburn density of 19 stems/acre (0-49 stems/ha) to 0 stems/acre (measured 4 months after the burn), with the unburned control averaging 21 stems/acre (54 stems/ha) [123].

Though widely used, broadcast burning disadvantages include incomplete control, a narrow annual treatment window, and integrated prefire (to accumulate fine fuel) and postfire (to allow recovery of grasses) grazing management required to improve results [93]. Degree of control depends on tree height, amount and distribution of herbaceous material that serves as fuel, backfire or headfire, and weather conditions favoring ignition of tree crowns [77].

Eastern redcedar trees <6 feet (1.8 m) tall are easily killed by prescribed burns with adequate grass fuel (~2,000 lbs/acre (2,268 kg/ha)) [17,39,77]. A Missouri study found that eastern redcedar mortality depended chiefly on the ratio of the amount of surface fuel to the amount of eastern redcedar foliage to be consumed (higher ratio = greater mortality). The ratio was affected both by size of the tree and density of the crown. Mortalities for eastern redcedar with very low, low, moderate, and high density crowns were 90%, 82%, 66%, and 35% respectively [85]. Eastern redcedar is somewhat less susceptible to fire as tree size increases, so fire intensity must increase to scorch the crown of taller trees [37,85,94]. Larger trees may escape fire due to thicker bark, higher canopies [93], and a low fuel to foliage ratio [85]. Headfires running with a 5- to 20-mph wind may be necessary to create flames that engulf the lower parts of large trees [77]. Controlling trees >6 feet tall often requires more fuel than the range's potential production [17].

Fire intensity and tree mortality are reduced further in dense stands of large trees because junipers reduce production of fine fuels [37]. The susceptibility of small eastern redcedar trees is enhanced because canopies of smaller trees do not have a large effect on surrounding herbaceous vegetation and stems are in close proximity to fine fuel [93]. In a Missouri burn, large tree mortality depended on amount of herbaceous fuel and density of crowns. Trees having crowns with sparse foliage exhibited 90% mortality. Trees having larger crowns with dense foliage showed 35% mortality. Light crowned trees had more foliage beneath them than did densely crowned trees. Temperatures the day of the burn ranged from 28 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit (-2 to 15 oC), the lowest relative humidity was 26%, and winds averaged 4.7 mph [29,85].

Two prescribed fires conducted 1 week apart on tallgrass prairie in Missouri had varying results. The 1st fire occurred with higher humidity and wetter fuels, resulting in a less severe burn that allowed even eastern redcedar stems 0.6 inches (1.5 cm) in diameter to survive. Drier fuel conditions and lower humidity during the 2nd burn resulted in relatively greater fire severity that killed 93 to 100% of eastern redcedar up to 3.5 inches in diameter [73].

Because eastern redcedar growth rate and resistance to prescribed fire treatments increases at 15 to 20 years, control of invading trees is most effective at less than 10 years of age and 6.6 feet (2 m) tall [4]. Eastern redcedar stands are often a mixture of tree sizes, and fuel loadings vary, so it is difficult to predict the extent of mortality following prescribed fire. In an Oklahoma study, eastern redcedar mortality for small (2 to 5 feet (0.6-1.5 m)), medium (5 to 8 feet (1.5-2.4 m)), and large (8 to 16 feet (2.4-4.9 m)) trees was 82, 54, and 39%, respectively. Fuel loads ranged from 1,300 to 6,100 lbs/acre (1,474-6,917 kg/ha), and tree mortality increased with increasing fuel load [39]. Studies at Leavenworth Barrens Nature Preserve found spring prescribed burning was ineffective at controlling eastern redcedar greater than 1.6 inches (4 cm) in diameter; however, tree girdling in the fall followed by prescribed burning in the spring resulted in >50% immediate reduction of eastern redcedar with most of the remaining trees dying during the 1st growing season after treatment. Subsequent burning virtually removed eastern redcedar from the site [1]. Use of defoliating herbicides prior to prescribed burning increases the leaf litter and may improve the effectiveness of fire treatments by increasing fire intensity [41,42]. Desiccation of eastern redcedar foliage increases crown scorch and mortality due to prescribed fire by promoting crown fire [37]. Individual tree ignition following prescribed burning may be effective for removing any surviving eastern redcedar [40,93]. Picloram and/or cutting treatments may also be effective in removing larger eastern redcedar not killed by prescribed burning [93,94,117].

Flowering and fruiting ¹¹

Eastern redcedar is a dioecious species,  and trees probably reach sexual maturity at about 10 years. Staminate  strobili or conelets begin to develop on male trees at the tips of  axillary branches of new scale-leaves. Pollen grains are formed by late  September in conelets having 10 to 12 entire-margined sporophylls.  Staminate strobili turn a conspicuous yellowish brown when they reach  maturity during winter, and thus male trees are readily distinguished from  ovulate ones.

    Small green conelets begin to develop by early fall or late summer on  ovulate trees but grow very little during the winter. They are borne  terminally on axillary branches of the new scale-leaves but do not become  conspicuous until late February to early spring. At this time the  microsporangial walls of the staminate conelets split longitudinally,  discharging the mature pollen. Pollen grains lodge at the end of the  micropyle of the many ovules in the conelet. Pollination is complete in a  few days when the conelet closes.

    Growth of the pollen tube is slow at first but becomes active by late  May or mid-June. Fertilization occurs in June and the mature embryo is  full grown in about 2 months, anytime from late July to mid-November,  depending on location. As the ovulate cone develops, greenish fruit-scales  form the outer fleshy protective coat of the berrylike cone. Cones change  color from green to greenish white to whitish blue and finally to bluish  as the season progresses.

    Each cone or fruit contains one to four (occasionally more) rounded or  angled brownish seeds, 2 to 4 mm (0.08 to 0.16 in) long, often with  longitudinal pits. The seed coat has a thick and bony outer layer and a  thin, membranous inner layer (23,47).

Habitat characteristics ¹²

More info for the terms: competition, hardwood, marsh, presence, shrub

Elevation and aspect: Eastern redcedar occurs from sea level to 5,000 feet (1,524 m) in elevation [29,111]. Although the most desirable elevation is not clearly delineated, eastern redcedar is found most often growing between 100 and 3,500 feet (30-1,070 m). It is notably absent below the 100 foot elevation zone in the southern and eastern parts of its range [79].

Aspect influences the character of eastern redcedar stands. On north and east slopes, there may be fewer eastern redcedar trees because of hardwood competition. However, the eastern redcedar that does occur on north and east slopes may be taller than the trees found on south and west slopes [46]. Eastern redcedar is generally more prevalent on south and south-west facing slopes [111]. In the western part of its range, however, eastern redcedar may more likely be found on north-facing slopes and along streambanks where there is some protection from high temperatures and drought [79]. On exposed areas in the far northern portion of its range, eastern redcedar's growth habit may be reduced to a low shrub [68].

Climate: Widespread distribution of eastern redcedar attests to its ability to grow under a range of climatic conditions. Precipitation averages 15 inches (380 mm) in the northwestern part of its range and 60 inches (1,520 mm) in the southeastern parts of its range [29,79,82,110]. Average annual maximum temperature ranges from 90 to 115 degrees Fahrenheit (32-46 oC) and average minimum temperature ranges from -45 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit (-43 to -7 oC). The growing season varies from about 120 to 250 days [79,82].

Soils and topography: Throughout its range, eastern redcedar grows under diverse site conditions: in deep and shallow soils, on ridgetops, and in valleys [46,47,64,79,114]. Eastern redcedar grows in such varied habitats as thin, rocky soils and dry outcrops to finer textured, saturated soils of swamps [18,63,64,79,82,110,132], though it is not tolerant of flooding [63]. Eastern redcedar is common on shallow soils (6 to 8 inches (15-20 cm) thick) on limestone or sandstone bedrock [29,31,47,68]. Where soil averages less than 12 inches (30 cm) deep, eastern redcedar seldom grows taller than 20 to 30 feet (6-9 m). Where soil depth is 12 to 24 inches (30-60 cm), it reaches 35 feet (10.7 m) in approximately 50 years [8]. Optimal site conditions for eastern redcedar are deep (>24 inches), moist, well-drained alluvial soils, where it may reach heights of 55 to 60 feet (16.7-18.3 m) after 50 years [46,79,82].

Eastern redcedar grows on alkaline or acidic soils where soil pH ranges from 4.7 to 7.8 [8,46,79,110]. High soil acidity does not deter eastern redcedar establishment [46,124], though it may slow growth [84]. Combinations of low phosphorus, high calcium and pH>7 in particular may favor eastern redcedar [24]. However, Lawson [79] reports that although eastern redcedar will grow on slightly alkaline soils, it is not particularly tolerant of higher pH levels. Eastern redcedar's occurrence on neutral to alkaline soils may be a result (rather than a cause) of the tree's presence [46]. Soils in eastern redcedar stands tend to become neutral or slightly alkaline because the high calcium content of the tree's foliage can change the pH of the surface soil in a relatively short time [29,46,79].

Eastern redcedar (primarily J.v. var. virginiana) is commonly found on rough upland topography, including moderate to steep slopes and eroded limestone slopes and knobs [3,8,11,13,24,111,111,124]. It frequently forms dense stands on exposed bluffs and ridges [18]. Southern redcedar occurs predominantly on coastal dunes, swales, shell mounds, brackish flats, and floodplains [3,36].

Tolerances: Southern redcedar is saline tolerant, growing on brackish marsh sites in southeastern U.S. [49], barrier island swales subject to saltwater flooding [122,136], and on coastal dunes subject to salt spray [64,69].

Eastern redcedar grows where water is near the surface or where soil moisture fluctuates from near saturation in winter to extreme dryness in summer [29]. It has high drought tolerance [29,63,92,132], enhanced by the presence of rapidly produced taproots as well as an extensive fibrous root system [29]. The relative drought tolerance of eastern redcedar compared with some herbaceous species (e.g. big bluestem) may contribute to its successful invasion of tallgrass prairie in the absence of fire [9].

Eastern redcedar is frost hardy [63,79,132], though newly established seedlings are subject to frost heaving and foliage may occasionally be damaged by winter injury [79].

Eastern redcedar is moderately shade intolerant/sun-adapted [18,79,92], though seedlings may survive for several years under a sparse canopy [13,79,119,132].

Immediate effect of fire ¹³

Eastern redcedar is susceptible to fire kill because of its short bole, thin bark, shallow roots, inability to resprout, and highly combustible evergreen foliage, which extends to the ground, particularly in young open-grown trees [8,21,23,31,57,63,77,79,139].

Importance to livestock and wildlife ¹⁴

More info for the term: cover

Many birds and small mammals eat the berrylike cones of eastern redcedar, especially in winter [8,12,17,110]. Wildlife species that eat eastern redcedar fruits include waxwings, bobwhite quail, ruffed grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, ring-necked pheasant, wild turkeys, rabbits, foxes, raccoons, skunks, opossums, and coyotes [46,63,79,98]. Deer may browse the abundant foliage of eastern redcedar when no other food is available [46,63,79,105], and are more likely to browse reproductively-active, mature than juvenile eastern redcedars [121].

Palatability/nutritional value: Eastern redcedar fruits are high in crude fat and crude fiber, moderate in calcium, and high in total carbohydrates [79]. Though considered poor quality forage [79], eastern redcedar foliage has relatively high calcium content, ranging from 1.9 to 2.6% on sites in the Ozarks [8].

Chemical analysis of eastern redcedar browse in the Missouri Ozarks (% dry matter) [88]:

Protein Fat Fiber C P K 7.08 11.02 24.42 1.17 0.12 0.49

Cover value: As an evergreen, eastern redcedar provides good nesting and roosting cover for many birds [17,63,79]. These include nest sites for Cooper's hawks [135] and roosting sites for eastern screech-owls [15,35], short-eared owls [19], and saw-whet owls [120]. Dense thickets of eastern redcedar provide good escape and hiding cover for deer and small mammals [17,63,79].

Key plant community associations ¹⁵

More info for the term: hardwood

Eastern redcedar commonly occurs in mixed stands with shortleaf pine
(Pinus echinata), Virginia pine (P. virginiana), northern
red oak (Quercus rubra), white oak (Q. alba), black oak
(Q. velutina), blackjack oak (Q. marilandica), hickories
(Carya spp.), and black walnut (Juglans nigra) [132]. In the
northeastern United States, eastern redcedar frequently occurs on rocky
ridgetops with shagbark hickory (C. ovata), eastern hophornbeam
(Ostrya virginiana), downy serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea),
little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), bristleleaf sedge
(Carex eburnea), and Parlin's pussytoes (Antennaria parlinii) [104].

Where eastern redcedar dominates, species diversity is commonly low [24]. Pure
stands of eastern redcedar occur throughout its range, primarily on dry uplands or
abandoned farmlands [63,79], though hardwood species may also occur on these sites [104].
In southern Appalachian montane cedar-hardwood woodlands, eastern redcedar occurs
with bluestems (Andropogon spp.), little bluestem, sedges (Carex spp.),
panicgrass (Dichanthelium spp.), yellow honeysuckle (Lonicera flava),
cliff stonecrop (Sedum glaucophyllum), white ash (Fraxinus americana),
eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis), slippery elm (Ulmus rubra),
honey-locust (Gleditsia tricanthos), chinkapin oak (Q. muehlenbergii),
chestnut oak (Q. prinus), pignut hickory (Carya glabra),
and mockernut hickory (C. tomentosa) [24,111]. Pure stands are
also common in the northern Great Plains, though the stands may eventually be invaded
by other woody species [93].

In the prairie ecosystem, common associates of eastern redcedar include
little bluestem, big bluestem (A. gerardii var. gerardii), sideoats grama
(Bouteloua curtipendula), blue grama (B. gracilis), western wheatgrass
(Pascopyrum smithii), indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), switchgrass
(Panicum virgatum), prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepsis), gray goldenrod
(Solidago nemoralis), sedges, flowering spurge (Euphorbia corollata),
smooth sumac (Rhus glabra), leadplant (Amorpha canescens), poison-ivy
(Toxicodendron radicans), common snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus),
silver buffaloberry (Shepherdia argentea), chokecherry (Prunus virginiana),
common juniper (J. communis), gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa), currants
(Ribes spp.), and Rubus species [93,126].

Where stands of eastern redcedar are interspersed with grasslands, "cedar
glades" may develop. Cedar glades are found in the Ozark region, north to
Wisconsin, and east to Illinois and Kentucky. Though eastern redcedar dominates
and may occur in almost pure stands in these glades [11,31,46,58,78], common
associates in midwestern glade communities include little bluestem, big bluestem,
broomsedge bluestem (Andropogon virginicus), hairy grama (B. hirsuta),
sideoats grama, switchgrass, prairie Junegrass (Koeleria macrantha),
indiangrass, dropseeds (Sporobolus spp.), blackjack oak,
post oak (Q. stellata), white ash, winged elm (U. alata),
fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica), Carolina buckthorn (Frangula caroliniana),
rusty blackhaw (Viburnum rufidulum), Alabama supplejack (Berchemia scandens),
and common persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) [11,46,47,58,78]. In Kentucky cedar
glades, eastern redcedar commonly occurs with big bluestem, little bluestem, purple threeawn
(Aristida purpurea), indiangrass, nodding onion (Allium cernuum), Carolina larkspur
(Delphinium carolinianum ssp. virescens), blue wild indigo
(Baptisia australis), roundhead lespedeza (Lespedeza capitata), flowering spurge,
spotted sandmat (Chamaesyce maculata), slenderstalk beeblossom (Gaura filipes),
necklace gladecress (Leavenworthia torulosa), Michaux's gladecress (L. uniflora),
little hogweed (Portulaca oleracea), bearded flatsedge (Cyperus squarrosus), and
widowscross (Sedum pulchellum) [10]. In Wisconsin cedar glades, common associates include
little bluestem, big bluestem, flowering spurge, leadplant, hairy grama, Michaux's stitchwort
(Minuartia michauxii var. michauxii), gray goldenrod, basswood
(Tilia americana), gray birch (Betula populifolia), common juniper, and creeping
juniper [31].

Classifications identifying eastern redcedar as a plant community dominant
include those listed below:

Kansas [78]
Kentucky [10]

New York [104]
North Carolina [111]
Wisconsin [31]

Other uses and values ¹⁶

The aromatic oils found in eastern redcedar heartwood repel clothing moths and are widely used in perfumes [4,14,63,79,79]. Aromatic oils are toxic to some ant species (Argentine ant and odorous house ant), and eastern redcedar mulch is effective in discouraging ant colonization [87]. Eastern redcedar oils are also effective in repelling Formosan subterranean termites [142]. Heartwood extractives may inhibit growth of fungi and bacteria [83]. Eastern redcedar heartwood has approximately 10 times the oil extractives of sapwood [137]. Due to a higher proportion of heartwood to sapwood in closed-canopy stands of eastern redcedar, trees grown under closed stand conditions may contain 4 to 5 times as much oil in the bolewood as open-grown trees of the same diameter [137].

Eastern redcedar is commonly planted in shelterbelts, windbreaks, and snow fences [17,46,52,63,79,81,117]. It also used for Christmas trees [17,46,79] and ornamental plantings [52,63].

Wood Products: Eastern redcedar heartwood is resistant to attack by termites and has greater commercial value than sapwood [4]. The principal product of eastern redcedar is fenceposts [8,110,117], though it is also used for lumber [17], poles, boats, paneling, closets, chests, and pencils [63,117]. The aromatic heartwood is commonly used for chests or closet lining [68,110]. On most sites, eastern redcedar grows slowly, and long rotations are required to produce conventional sawlogs. However, because the wood is used for small items and there is wide latitude in acceptable defects, shortening of rotations and intermediate harvesting of merchantable wood are possible. About 20 to 30 years are required for posts and 40 to 60 years for sawtimber [79].

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Alex Melman, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/25852386@N07/2954346425
2. (c) Robin, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), https://www.flickr.com/photos/familydigs/8360779905/
3. (c) Joshua Mayer, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/wackybadger/7356012060/
4. Adapted by Jonathan (JC) Carpenter from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juniperus_virginiana
5. (c) Unknown, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/22777153
6. Public Domain, http://eol.org/data_objects/24636698
7. (c) Unknown, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/22777151
8. Public Domain, http://eol.org/data_objects/1386371
9. Public Domain, http://eol.org/data_objects/24636695
10. Public Domain, http://eol.org/data_objects/24636699
11. (c) Unknown, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/22777154
12. Public Domain, http://eol.org/data_objects/24636692
13. Public Domain, http://eol.org/data_objects/24636697
14. Public Domain, http://eol.org/data_objects/24636700
15. Public Domain, http://eol.org/data_objects/24636688
16. Public Domain, http://eol.org/data_objects/24636702

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• eFloras.org
• Flora of North America (beta)
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• Go Botany
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• IPNI (with links to POWO, WFO, and BHL)
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• New Zealand Plant Conservation Network
• OregonFlora.org
• SEINet Symbiota portals
• Tropicos
• USDA PLANTS database
• VASCAN by Canadensys
• World Flora Online

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