Red Cedar Tree Characteristics
No singular tree is called red cedar. Instead, there are types of red cedar trees, including eastern, western and southern. Red cedars are false cedars because they aren't the Cedrus genus. Some scientists speculate they are commonly named "cedars" because their fragrant bark smells like that of true cedars. Most red cedars grow in full sun to partial shade, and their scalelike foliage acts as a privacy screen. These evergreens can live more than 150 years.
Eastern Red Cedar
The eastern red cedar tree (Juniperus virginiana) has dark green foliage that turns red in fall, which adds interest to your autumn landscape. It grows in a conical shape 40 to 50 feet tall at a rate of 2 feet per growing season in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 9. This versatile, drought-tolerant tree thrives in moist to dry places with clay, loamy or sandy soil that has a pH range from highly acidic to highly alkaline. It provides moderate shade.
Western Red Cedar
Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) is a coastal Northern California native with a moderate tolerance for salinity. This tree soars to a height of 50 to 120 feet at a rate of 2 to 3 feet per growing season. Its conical canopy offers dense shade, covering an extensive area 25 to 60 feet wide. Western red cedar is suited to any kind of moist soil with a highly acidic to slightly alkaline pH. It has poor fire resistance and grows in USDA plant hardiness zones 6 through 8.
Southern Red Cedar
Southern red cedar (J. virginiana var. silicicola) has a high tolerance for salt spray, making it an excellent choice for seaside properties in USDA zones 8 to 10. It grows 50 feet high at a rate of 2 feet or more per growing season and takes on a columnar, conical or oval shape. You can plant it in any type of well-draining soil with an acidic to alkaline pH. Its foliage doesn’t change color in the fall, and the canopy provides a low to moderately low amount of shade.
Idyllwild Red Cedar
Idyllwild red cedar (J. virginiana “Idyllwild”) is drought tolerant and needs full sun exposure. Shorter than most red cedar trees, it only reaches 20 feet tall yet grows about 2 feet per season. You can plant this adaptable tree in moist to dry and loamy or sandy soil with a highly acidic to highly alkaline pH. It takes on a conical or oval shape and grows in USDA plant hardiness zones 6 through 10.
- Cal Poly Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute: Eastern Red Cedar
- Cal Poly Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute: Southern Red Cedar
- Cal Poly Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute: Western Red Cedar
- Cal Poly Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute: Idyllwild Red Cedar
- Oregon State University: False Cedars (Calocedrus, Thuja, Chamaecyparis)
Victoria Weinblatt began writing articles in 2007, contributing to The Huffington Post and other websites. She is a certified yoga instructor, group fitness instructor and massage therapist. Weinblatt received her B.S. in natural resources from Michigan State University and an M.Ed. from Shenandoah University.