Common Name: red cedar
Type: Needled evergreen
Zone: 4 to 9
Height: 15.00 to 20.00 feet
Spread: 3.00 to 4.00 feet
Bloom Time: Non-flowering
Bloom Description: Non-flowering
Sun: Full sun
Other: Winter Interest
Tolerate: Deer, Drought, Erosion, Dry Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil, Black Walnut, Air Pollution
Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates a wide range of soils and growing conditions. Prefers consistent moisture, but has good drought resistance once established. Intolerant of wet soils.
Eastern red cedar is native from Nova Scotia to North Dakota south to Texas and Florida. In Misssouri, it is typically found on limestone bluffs and glades, wood margins, fields, pastures and fence rows throughout the state except for the southeastern lowlands (Steyermark). It is a broadly conical, sometimes columnar, dense, evergreen conifer with horizontal branching that typically grows to 30-65’ tall. Leaves come in two sizes: scale-like (adult) and awl/needle-like (juvenile). Gray to reddish-brown bark exfoliates in thin shreddy strips on mature trees. ‘Taylor’ is an upright narrow columnar eastern red cedar that typically grows to 15-20' tall but to only 3-4' feet wide. Silvery blue-green foliage is attractive throughout the growing season. Foliage may take on some bronze tones in winter. Round, blue-purple, berry-like cones on female trees are often ornamental. Cones are attractive to many birds. 'Taylor' was reportedly discovered in Taylor, Nebraska as a chance seedling.
No serious insect or disease problems. Cedar apple rust is a common problem for many different junipers, but this cultivar has good resistance. Susceptible to twig blight and scale. Watch for bagworms. Mites may occur.
Narrow landscape accent/specimen. Flank entrances. Large screen. Windbreak.