Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
| Needle retention | Dries quickly in a warm house: keep well watered |
|---|---|
| Fragrance | Nice cedar fragrance; the source of cedarwood oil used in perfumery |
| Needles | Small scale-like foliage in sprays; juvenile growth can be prickly |
| Ornaments | Flexible limbs support lighter ornaments |
| Color | Dark shiny green; cultivars range to blue-green and silvery |
| Grown in | Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska east through nearly every state, north into southern Canada |
| USDA zones | 2-9 (for planting a living tree; find your zone by ZIP) |
Worth knowing
- The traditional southern Christmas tree: the wild-cut tree of choice before plantation farming.
- Not a true cedar: it is a juniper; its wood repels moths.
Care notes
Whatever the species: make a fresh half-inch cut off the trunk before it goes in the stand, use a stand that holds a quart of water per inch of trunk diameter, top it up daily, and keep the tree away from heat. Details in the care guide.
Sources: NC State Extension: Selection and Care of Christmas Trees · National Christmas Tree Association: Tree Varieties · NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox