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Barrier 20 Eastern Red Cedar

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Barrier 20 Eastern Red Cedar

layout: base.njk title: "Eastern Red Cedar / Juniper" plantName: "Juniperus virginiana" category: "Barrier Hedge & Support Species" description: "Growing guide for Eastern Red Cedar / Juniper in West Virginia Zone 6b/7a" tags: planting-guide

Type: Evergreen conifer (tree)
Family: Cupressaceae (Cypress family)
Sun: Full sun
Water: Low; extremely drought tolerant once established
Soil pH: 5.0-8.0 (extremely adaptable; tolerates alkaline, clay, poor soils)
Hardiness: Zones 2-9 (excellent for WV Zone 6b/7a)
Growth Rate: Medium (1-2 feet/year)
Mature Size: 30-50 ft tall × 8-15 ft spread (variable)

⚠️ NATIVE STATUS

✅ NATIVE TO WEST VIRGINIA AND EASTERN NORTH AMERICA

Eastern red cedar is native throughout the eastern United States, including all of West Virginia. Found naturally in open fields, woodland edges, fence rows, rocky slopes, and disturbed areas.

Ecological Value: - Year-round windbreak, screening - Wildlife habitat (berries eaten by 50+ bird species) - Native beneficial insect habitat - No invasive concerns - Pioneer species in old fields

Conservation Status: Not threatened; common and widespread.

Recommended: YES — Outstanding native evergreen for WV. Drought tolerant, wildlife-friendly, adaptable.

📅 Planting Calendar (WV Zone 6b/7a)

Activity Timing Notes
Plant container/bare-root March-April OR September-October Avoid summer
Prune Late winter (February-March) Before new growth
Collect berries October-February For wildlife, propagation

🌾 Varieties / Cultivars

Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)

  • Source: Native plant nurseries, regular nurseries
  • Notes: Wild-type. Variable form (pyramidal to irregular). Berry-producing (female). Native.

'Grey Owl'

  • Source: Nurseries
  • Notes: Low, spreading (3-4 ft tall, 6-8 ft wide). Gray-green foliage. Female.

'Burkii'

  • Source: Nurseries
  • Notes: Dense, pyramidal. Slow-medium growth.

'Canaertii'

  • Source: Nurseries
  • Notes: Dense, pyramidal. Abundant blue berries. Female. Fast growing.

'Emerald Sentinel'

  • Source: Nurseries
  • Notes: Narrow, columnar. Tall (20-25 ft). Male.

'Spartan'

  • Source: Nurseries
  • Notes: Dense, pyramidal. Fast growing.

'Silver Spreader'

  • Source: Nurseries
  • Notes: Low, spreading. Silver-blue foliage.

Male vs. Female

  • Female: Produces blue "berries" (cones) — wildlife food
  • Male: Pollen producer, no berries
  • For wildlife: Plant females
  • For windbreak: Either sex

📜 Cultural History & Native Range

Native Range: Eastern and central North America. Throughout eastern US including all of West Virginia. One of most widespread eastern conifers.

West Virginia Habitat: Open fields, woodland edges, fence rows, rocky slopes, disturbed areas throughout state. Pioneer species in old fields.

Indigenous Use: - Cherokee: Wood for bows, paddles, posts - Cherokee: Branch tea for colds, fever - Cherokee: Berries for urinary issues - Other tribes: Similar uses - Aromatic wood: Moth deterrent, fragrance

Historical Applications: - Fence posts: Rot-resistant (lasts 50+ years) - Pencil wood: Primary wood for pencils (soft, aromatic) - Chests, closets: Aromatic wood repels moths - Windbreaks: Farm windbreaks (1800s-1900s) - Medicinal: Colds, fever, urinary issues - Essential oil: Cedarwood oil (fragrance, insect repellent)

Ecological Role: - Pioneer species (colonizes old fields) - Year-round cover for wildlife - Berries eaten by 50+ bird species (cedar waxwings, robins, bluebirds) - Nesting sites (dense foliage) - Winter shelter (evergreen)

Cultural Significance: - "Cedar waxwing" named for fondness of cedar berries - Traditional Appalachian medicinal plant - Moth-repelling chests, closets - Pencil industry (primary wood source)

🌿 Farm Functions

Primary Functions: - Windbreak: EXCELLENT dense evergreen windbreak. Year-round protection. Native adaptation. - Wildlife habitat: Berries eaten by 50+ bird species. Dense cover for nesting, roosting. Cedar waxwings, bluebirds, robins LOVE berries. - Privacy screen: Dense foliage blocks views year-round - Erosion control: Root system stabilizes slopes, poor soils - Pioneer species: Establishes in poor, droughty soils where other trees won't grow

Secondary Functions: - Rot-resistant wood: Fence posts, outdoor use (lasts 50+ years) - Aromatic wood: Moth repellent (chests, closets), fragrance - Pencil wood: Soft, straight-grained (historical pencil industry) - Medicinal: Traditional use for colds, urinary issues (consult herbalist; contains thujone) - Essential oil: Cedarwood oil (aromatherapy, insect repellent) - Craft: Wood for small objects, carving, turning

What Wildlife It Supports: - Birds: 50+ species eat berries (cedar waxwings, robins, bluebirds, grouse) - Mammals: Deer browse foliage (winter), rabbits, foxes eat berries - Insects: Host plant for juniper hairstreak butterfly, other Lepidoptera

🌱 Growing in WV Clay

Site Selection: FULL SUN essential. Extremely adaptable to soil: clay, sand, rocky, alkaline, poor, droughty. Ideal for windbreaks, poor soils, droughty sites, wildlife habitat. Tolerates urban conditions.

Soil Prep: Minimal required—grows in terrible soil. For establishment: - Dig hole 2-3× root ball width - Amend with compost if available (not necessary) - No fertilizer needed

Planting: - Container/bare-root: March-April OR September-October - Depth: Plant at nursery depth - Spacing: 8-12 ft apart for windbreak; 15-20 ft for specimen - Water thoroughly after planting - Mulch 3-4" (keep away from trunk)

Care: - Water: First year regular; EXTREMELY drought tolerant after establishment - Fertilizer: NOT NEEDED - Pruning: Light pruning in late winter; tolerates shearing - Weed control: Not needed once established

Propagation: - Seeds: Stratification 60-90 days (berry pulp inhibits germination—remove) - Cuttings: Semi-hardwood; requires hormone - Most propagated from seed (commercial)

✂️ Management

Pruning: - When: Late winter (February-March) before new growth - How much: Light to moderate; tolerates shearing for formal hedge - Why: Shape, remove dead wood, maintain size - Rejuvenation: Doesn't resprout from old wood

Containment: - Self-sowing: Berries dispersed by birds; seedlings common - Management: Pull seedlings easily when small - Not invasive: Native species, natural successional pattern

Harvest: - Berries: October-February, pick when blue with whitish bloom - Wood: Any time; best seasoned - Branches: For wreaths, crafts (aromatic)

⚠️ Cautions

Invasive Potential: ✅ NONE — Native species - Self-sows via bird-dispersed seeds - Part of natural succession (old fields → cedar → hardwood forest) - Not invasive; natural ecological role

Other Cautions: - Juniper rust: Alternate host for cedar-apple rust (affects apples, crabapples, hawthorns). Don't plant near orchards. - Allergies: Pollen can trigger allergies (male trees) - Toxicity: Berries, foliage contain thujone (toxic in large doses). Don't consume internally without expert guidance. - Deer browse: Deer browse foliage (less preferred than arborvitae but still browsed)

🌳 Integration in Farm Design

Where to Plant: - Windbreaks (PRIMARY use) - Wildlife habitat plantings - Poor, droughty soils - Fence rows, boundary markers - Old field restoration - Privacy screens - Naturalized areas

Where NOT to Plant: - Near apple/crabapple orchards (juniper rust) - Small yards (gets large—30-50 ft) - Formal landscapes (variable form)

Guild Mates: - Other windbreak species: White pine, arborvitae, spruce - Wildlife plants: Dogwood, serviceberry, elderberry - Drought-tolerant plants: Once established, very low water needs

Design Applications: - Windbreaks: Rows on north, northwest sides - Wildlife habitat: Berry production for birds - Pioneer plantings: Disturbed, poor soils - Privacy screens: Property lines - Natural succession: Old field restoration

📖 Sources Consulted

  1. USDA PLANTS Database. Juniperus virginiana profile. plants.usda.gov
  2. West Virginia Division of Natural Resources. "Native Plants of West Virginia."
  3. Missouri Botanical Garden. Juniperus virginiana plant finder.
  4. Dirr, Michael A. (2009). Dirr's Encyclopedia of Trees and Shrubs. Timber Press.
  5. Cherokee Ethnobotanical Database. "Juniperus virginiana."
  6. Xerces Society. "Pollinator Plants: Eastern United States."
  7. National Wildlife Federation. "Eastern Red Cedar."
  8. USDA Forest Service. "Silvics of North America."

🔍 Quick Reference

Attribute Value
Native Status ✅ NATIVE to WV and eastern North America
Windbreak ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ EXCELLENT (dense evergreen)
Wildlife ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Berries for 50+ bird species
Drought Tolerance ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ EXCELLENT once established
Soil Adaptability ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Extremely adaptable
Juniper Rust ⚠️ Alternate host (don't plant near apple orchards)
Invasive Risk ✅ NONE (native species)
Best Use Windbreaks, wildlife habitat, poor soils, erosion control

Bottom Line: Eastern Red Cedar/Juniper is an outstanding native evergreen windbreak for West Virginia. Extremely drought tolerant, adaptable to poor soils. Berries feed 50+ bird species (wildlife magnet). Rot-resistant wood for posts. No invasive concerns—natural pioneer species. ALTERNATE HOST FOR CEDAR-APPLE RUST (don't plant near apple orchards). Excellent choice for windbreaks, wildlife habitat, poor/droughty soils, and any WV farm ecosystem. 🐺🌲🐦