Red Cedar Christmas Tree

Neither species is a true cedar cedrus spp but both provide gardeners sound options for specimen trees.

Red cedar christmas tree.

Eastern red cedar juniperus virginiana eastern red cedar is considered the traditional southern christmas tree by many people who can still remember going out in the woods for one as a child. In north america there are two evergreen tree species commonly called red cedars the eastern red cedar juniperus virginiana and the western red cedar thuja plicata perhaps better known as an arborvitae. And like many evergreen trees red cedar plays an important role as nesting and roosting cover for birds and other wildlife in its dense foliage. Juniperus virginiana is a dense slow growing coniferous evergreen tree that may never become more than a bush on poor soil but is ordinarily from 5 20 m or 16 66 ft tall with a short trunk 30 100 cm or 12 39 inches in diameter rarely to 27 m or 89 ft in height and 170 cm or 67 inches in diameter.

It is closely related to juniperus scopulorum the rocky mountain juniper. About a week or two before christmas my dad would say anybody want a christmas tree this year that was the signal for a trip up the mountain to find the very best christmas tree that would fit into our living room. There are numerous cultivars of eastern redcedar. It makes an attractive christmas tree with probably the most pleasing aroma of any tree.

It also was the signal. Its not a true cedar but is a member of the juniper family. By sharon brown sharran december 25 2012. Thank you for trumpeting the benefits of the eastern red cedar tree pat.

Unlike some species that must be pruned regularly to maintain the traditional cone shape the eastern red cedar comes by its pyramidal crown naturally. Eastern red cedar is native to north america. The leaves jet upwards and are a dark shiny green color. It s a member of the juniper family.

Moderate to fast growing red cedar can reach a mature height of 25 to 45 feet tall and spread 20 to 30 feet wide. Eastern red cedar. Many are characterized by color differences that vary from dark green to bluish green to silvery to gray green to bronze. These cold hardy adaptable evergreen trees serve many purposes in the landscape especially in sites that are dry alkaline or windy.

This tree is not a true cedar but a member of the juniper family as the botanical name implies. This evergreen isn t a true cedar. Although if you re looking for a one of a kind christmas tree a cedar is a viable option. My first session of mg training about trees was at a cider place on us 29 s where we walked among the apple trees and saw the damage by deer and heard about apple cedar rust.

The eastern red cedar is a popular christmas tree in the southern u s where it is a native species. The oldest tree reported from west virginia was 940 years old. Also commonly referred to as the eastern red cedar pencil cedar and aromatic cedar. Because they are quite salt tolerant they can be used near roads driveways and sidewalks.