Juniperus virginiana L.
Eastern redcedar, red cedar, eastern juniper, red juniper, pencil cedar
Eastern redcedar is native to eastern North America. For a taste of the truly bizarre, check out this cedar apple rust. It is a fungus that grows only on this cedar and goes through an amazing life cycle.
Plants: These cedars range from bush height to 66′ (20 m). They are common, and grow in a wide range of soils. Bark is red-brown.
Leaves: Composed of heavily branched wiry filaments about 1/16″ (2 mm) in diameter. If you inspect the leaves carefully, they are made up of a series of overlapping scales.
Fruits: Cones appear to be dark blue berries, often appearing lighter and powdery or waxy on the surfaces. They are about ¼–½″ (6.3–12 mm) in diameter, and very numerous.
Habitats: Poor soils, gravely slopes, rocky ridges.
Online References:
2/14/2012 · Halibut Point State Park, Rockport, Massachusetts 
4/4/2026 · A. J. McEachern Memorial Trail, Driftway Conservation Park, Scituate, Massachusetts · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (47 × 31 cm) 
4/4/2026 · A. J. McEachern Memorial Trail, Driftway Conservation Park, Scituate, Massachusetts · ≈ 1½ × 2½′ (51 × 76 cm) 
9/22/2023 · Moxie Falls, Moxie Gore, Maine 
4/4/2026 · A. J. McEachern Memorial Trail, Driftway Conservation Park, Scituate, Massachusetts 
3/10/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm) 
ID is uncertain 
2/14/2012 · Halibut Point State Park, Rockport, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 4″ (12 × 10 cm) 
6/13/2011 · Great Falls State Park, Washington, DC · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm) ID is uncertain 
10/5/2010 · Susan and Raimond’s, Phoenix, Maryland · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 19 cm) ID is uncertain 
4/4/2026 · A. J. McEachern Memorial Trail, Driftway Conservation Park, Scituate, Massachusetts · ≈ 11 × 17″ (28 × 43 cm) 
2/14/2012 · Halibut Point State Park, Rockport, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm) 
10/20/2012 · By Jacquelyn Boyt 
11/29/2009 · Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm) ID is uncertain 
10/5/2010 · Susan and Raimond’s, Phoenix, Maryland · ≈ 1 × 2′ (41 × 62 cm) ID is uncertain 
3/10/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts ID is uncertain 
6/29/2023 · Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia 
6/13/2011 · Great Falls State Park, Washington, DC · ≈ 8 × 5″ (19 × 13 cm) ID is uncertain 
11/29/2009 · Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 10 × 12″ (24 × 29 cm) ID is uncertain 
10/20/2012 · By Jacquelyn Boyt 
6/29/2023 · Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia 
10/5/2010 · Susan and Raimond’s, Phoenix, Maryland · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm) ID is uncertain 
7/2/2010 · Stansbury Mill Rd, Phoenix, Maryland · ≈ 15 × 10″ (38 × 25 cm) 
4/3/2011 · Susan & Raimond’s, Phoenix, Maryland · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm) ID is uncertain 
4/29/2024 · Otter Creek Trail, Devil’s Back, Orr’s lsland, Maine 
6/29/2023 · Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia 
Brushing against the shrub, covered with young male cones, releases a cloud of pollen. · 4/4/2026 · A. J. McEachern Memorial Trail, Driftway Conservation Park, Scituate, Massachusetts · ≈ 11 × 8″ (28 × 19 cm) 
Young male cones are on the branch tips. · 4/4/2026 · A. J. McEachern Memorial Trail, Driftway Conservation Park, Scituate, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 7″ (20 × 18 cm) 
11/29/2009 · Rail Trail, Ayer, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm) ID is uncertain 
2/14/2012 · Halibut Point State Park, Rockport, Massachusetts 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Coniferophyta | Conifers—cone-bearing trees (and a few shrubs) |
| Class | Pinopsida | Gymnosperms such as cedars, Douglas-firs, cypresses, firs, junipers, kauri, larches, pines, hemlocks, redwoods, spruces, and yews |
| Order | Pinales | Cone-bearing plants: cedar, cypress, fir, juniper, larch, pine, redwood, spruce, yew, and others |
| Family | Cupressaceae | Cypres family, including junipers and redwoods |
| Genus | Juniperus | Latin for “juniper” |
| Species | virginiana | “From Virginia” |
Juniperus virginiana description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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