The common name can be slightly misleading as it’s technically not a true cedar but a juniper. These tall, slim trees with their waxy, light blue-colored berries are often overlooked as a wild edible. But they’re a valuable species and a vital food source for wildlife like the cedar waxwing.
What are the health benefits of cedar berries?
- Respiratory and intestinal problems: A tea made by steeping cedar berries can be used to treat coughs and colds as well as for treating intestinal worms and preventing vomiting.
- Viral infections: Native Americans used cedar berries as a treatment for measles. ...
- High blood pressure: Cedar berries function as a diuretic. ...
How to determine if berries are edible?
Method 1 of 2: Testing for Edibility Download Article
- Avoid ever having to use this method without careful planning. ...
- Find a plant that is plentiful. You don't want to go through the rigorous process of testing a plant if there's not a lot of it to eat.
- Abstain from eating or drinking anything but purified water for 8 hours before the test. ...
- Separate the plant into parts. ...
Does eating cedar berries help with allergies?
While cedar berries are used to help ward off and alleviate cedar mountain allergies by introducing the body to small amounts of the cedar mountain tree so it can become adjusted and no longer react to the pollen, there may be other reasons this works.
Can you eat cedar berries?
While both cedar berries and juniper berries can be harmful, cedar berries have a higher likelihood of being toxic. They should not be consumed by pregnant women. Juniper berries can be used as a substitute for cedar berries, but it is important to note that you will need to use less of them since their flavor is more concentrated.
Can you eat cedar tree berries?
They are called red cedar berries or juniper berries because they are a deep purple-blue color with a white wax coating. Eastern red cedar berries are edible and were used by Native Americans to flavor food, including game meat.
Are cedar berries good for anything?
Eastern red cedar is a tree. The wood, berries, and leaves are used for medicine. People take Eastern red cedar for cough, bronchitis, joint pain (rheumatism), water retention, and flatulence. They also take it to improve appetite and digestion, and as a treatment for fungal infections and worms.
What can I do with cedar berries?
Some Native American cultures referred to the eastern red cedar as “the Tree of Life.” The berries were used for ceremonial rites, medicine, and consumption, added as seasoning to many roasted meats. Colonial craftsmen used the eastern red cedar wood as a building material for both furniture and fencing.
Are cedar berries poisonous?
Eastern red cedar is considered an edible species of Juniper. However eating large amounts of the plant or consuming its essential oil could lead to acute poisoning, although rare. If an extremely large amount is eaten severe poisoning could include vomiting, convulsions, or possibly even death.
Can you cook with cedar berries?
The Comanche and the Lakota American Indians used the berries of the eastern red cedar, eating them whole and also crushed as a spice for soups, meats, and stews. The berry is much smaller than that of the common juniper. It's also sweeter and less harsh, without those "turpentine" gin notes.
What are the little blue berries on cedar trees?
It's a juniper. And despite having round, blue fruits that look just like berries and not at all like cones, eastern red cedar is a conifer. The skin of the berry consists of soft scales that have coalesced, so in theory it might properly be called a cone, farfetched as that may seem.
Do animals eat cedar berries?
The fruits of Eastern Red Cedar are eaten throughout the winter by many birds and by mammals such as mice and voles, Eastern Cottontail, Red and Gray Foxes, Raccoon, Striped Skunk, and Opossum.
Are cedar berries poisonous to dogs?
The good news is that white cedar berries are so bitter that most animals avoid them. The bad news is that eating just five or six of them has been fatal for small dogs.
What is the difference between juniper and cedar?
Eastern Red Cedar is very closely related to the Common Juniper, in fact they are in the same genus. The key obvious difference is that Juniper seldom grows as a tree, whereas Red Cedar nearly always does.
What kind of cedar tree has berries?
Juniperus monosperma is a small, slow-growing tree native to the southwestern United States. This hardy tree is known as one-seed juniper and the females produce a small, waxy pod or “berry” that bears a single seed.
How can you tell the difference between white cedar and red cedar?
Cut into these two trees, and the color of the wood differs greatly. Western Red Cedar gets its name from its red color, while Northern White Cedar is lighter and has a yellow hue. Make a crosscut into the trunk, and you'll see that both trees have two rings. The outer, lighter color ring is the sapwood.
Can you make gin from cedar berries?
A few things to remember if you are making your botanical gin at home: 1. Only harvest juniper berries from edible varieties of juniper. In Massachusetts this is predominantly Juniperus virginiana (Eastern Red Cedar).
Do animals eat cedar berries?
The fruits of Eastern Red Cedar are eaten throughout the winter by many birds and by mammals such as mice and voles, Eastern Cottontail, Red and Gray Foxes, Raccoon, Striped Skunk, and Opossum.
Can you make gin from cedar berries?
A few things to remember if you are making your botanical gin at home: 1. Only harvest juniper berries from edible varieties of juniper. In Massachusetts this is predominantly Juniperus virginiana (Eastern Red Cedar).
Are cedar berries poisonous to dogs?
The good news is that white cedar berries are so bitter that most animals avoid them. The bad news is that eating just five or six of them has been fatal for small dogs.
Are red cedar berries poisonous to dogs?
Poisonous Parts It is a flowering tree with berries. The berries are the most toxic part of the tree, but the leaves, flowers and bark will also make your pet ill.
What does a mountain cedar look like?
The trunks of these trees often branch from the base, and the dark bark exfoliates in strips. The leaves on these trees look like scales. However, they are green during the growing season and hold onto the color through winter.
What does it mean when you have a fever from cedar?
It can be an annoyance and even dreadful, causing red eyes, a runny nose, itchy ears incessant sneezing and a sort of fatigue that prevents the sufferer from having any energy. Those who suffer from mountain cedar allergies often end up visiting a doctor specializing in allergies.
What is Juniperus ashei called?
Juniperus ashei has many common names. It is called ashe juniper and mountain cedar, but also rock cedar, Mexican juniper, and Texas cedar.
What causes cedar trees to produce pollen?
In a rainy year, the trees produce tons of pollen. The cones begin to appear in December. In a short time, any breath of wind causes clouds of pollen near the trees. Mountain cedar pollen causes an unpleasant allergic reaction in some people. Some call it “cedar fever.”.
Where does the sycamore tree grow?
Its primary habitat is central Texas but it also grows in the wild in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri and northern Mexico.
Is mountain cedar a tree?
Image by GoceIlievski. Mountain cedar is a tree with a common name full of contradictions. The tree is not a cedar at all, and its native range is central Texas, not known for its mountains. What is mountain cedar?
WHAT ARE MOUNTAIN ASH BERRIES?
Mountain ash berries, also commonly known as rowan berries, are the fruit of the mountain ash tree, Sorbus Americana, the showy mountain ash ( Sorbus decora ), or in Europe, Sorbus aucuparia. In the rose family, mountain ash isn’t actually an ash at all, which is the genus Fraxinus, though the leaves are somewhat similar.
ARE MOUNTAIN ASH BERRIES EDIBLE?
Mountain ash berries are indeed edible, though you wouldn’t want to munch them fresh off the tree in late summer. Like black chokeberries, mountain ash berries are exceedingly astringent, and not in the least tasty eaten on their own.
FORAGING MOUNTAIN ASH BERRIES
Because they hang on through the winter, mountain ash berries are a good foraging option when many other of our favorite plants have died or gone to sleep for the season. Cedar waxwings are fond of rowanberry, though, so you may find they’ve beaten you to them. Rowan berries may also degrade on the tree, as you can see in the photo below.
TIPS FOR USING ROWAN BERRIES & ROWAN BERRY RECIPES
Now that you’ve gathered up a huge bunch of mountain ash berries, what to do with them? Remember, rowan berries are not considered a good choice for fresh eating, and cooking is recommended to diminish the compounds of concern.
What do cedar berries do?
The “berries” provide an important food sources to birds and small mammals. Humans can also eat them, and apparently you can make them into a jam if you are very adventurous!
What tree do golden cheeked warblers make their nests from?
Golden Cheeked Warblers make their nests almost exclusively from Ashe Juniper bark.
What is the scientific name for Juniper?
The scientific name for Ashe Juniper just sounds like a fancy version of it: Juniperus ashei. You can start using that name to impress all your friends!
What do the fleshy cones on a juniper look like?
The fleshy cones of the female Ashe Juniper look like blue berries. They are a source of food for wildlife.
When did a juniper grow?
According to research at Baylor University, Ashe Juniper has been growing in the United States since the late Pleistocene era. That is as far back as 125,000 years ago. Ashe Juniper was growing when mammoths and saber-toothed tigers roamed the Earth. Talk about a hardy tree!
Is a cheeked warbler a juniper?
It uses the bark of Ashe Juniper trees almost exclusively to build its nests. Without Ashe Junipers there would be no Golden Cheeked Warblers.
Is a mountain cedar tree good for the environment?
Without natural fires to control its growth, Ashe Juniper has exploded to form dense thickets in natural areas and private ranches. Too much Mountain Cedar is not necessarily a good thing. Managing its growth is important to maintaining biodiversity.
What is Eastern Red Cedar?
Eastern Red Cedar is a common tree in New England and other parts of the Eastern United States. Eastern red cedar berries and foliage be used to add a natural flavor to meat and grain dishes. Knowing where the nearest Eastern Red Cedar is could also help if you have a cough or cold. Native Americans used this plant for a number of things, ...
What are the benefits of eating Eastern Red Cedar?
The berries of Eastern Red Cedar have a number of medicinal uses. A Tea made from the berries has been commonly used for the treatment of coughs and colds , and to expel intestinal worms. Chewing the berries may help with mouth soars. External application may help with infections and warts due to the plants antiseptic properties .
What are juniper berries used for?
Eastern red cedar berries and other non-toxic junipers have been used in a number of ways. Native Americans often added juniper berries to food dishes and grains like flour for a hint of flavor. Deer and other meat was often cooked with Juniper berries. They were prepared different ways by different tribes but some of the preparation methods include drying, soaking, mashing, or just eating them raw. Juniper berries and young twigs were also made into a medicinal tea by Native American Tribes. Eastern Red Cedar is slightly less aromatic than some other junipers but it can still be used in much the same way. Another thing worth noting is that the berries take 3 years to mature and are a dark blue when finally ready to pick.
How were Juniper berries prepared?
They were prepared different ways by different tribes but some of the preparation methods include drying, soaking, mashing, or just eating them raw. Juniper berries and young twigs were also made into a medicinal tea by Native American Tribes.
What is a ripe Juniperus virginiana?
Juniperus virginiana ripe fruit and foliage with rounded new growth
How to tell if junipers are evergreen?
One way to identify junipers from other evergreens is to notice the distinct difference between the 2 types of foliage that are often present on the same tree. There is a longer sharp and pointed foliage and there is a very short scale-like rounded foliage.
Why is red cedar called red cedar?
It is known for its very uniform upright shape, and it gets taller than many other juniper species. The name Red Cedar comes from the reddish heartwood which is noticeable when the trunk or branch is cut. Eastern red cedar berries look very similar to other juniper berries and are not a good identification feature.
How long does it take for cedar berries to mature?
Cedar berries which take several years to mature.
What type of cedar tree is in Texas?
That being said, there are two types of cedar trees in Texas. The first, Junipers ashei, is the small, multi-trunked Hill Country cedar sometimes referred to as Mountain Cedar which takes on a roundish shape.
What is the distribution of Junipers ashei?
North American distribution of Junipers ashei, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. Texas distribution of Junipers virginiana, attributed to U. S. Department of Agriculture. The marked counties are guidelines only. Plants may appear in other counties, especially if used in landscaping.
What wood is used for firewood?
The inner wood of both is reddish in color and very aromatic. When used in campfires it'll "pop" a lot and throw sparks. The Hill Country cedars, Juniperus ashei, can be used in multiple ways. Starting with the leaves, they can be smoked, made into tea, or used to infuse vinegar.
How many edibles are there in the Idiots Guide?
Buy my book! Idiots Guide Foraging covers 70 of North America's tastiest and easy to find wild edibles shown with the same big pictures as here on the Foraging Texas website.
Why do Native Americans smoke cedar leaves?
Native Americans smoked the leaves both for pleasure and medicinally to help with lung and sinus issues/infections. Cedar tea contains the anti-viral compound known as deoxypodophyllotoxin which may be why such tea was historically used to treat many viral-based diseases.
Can Juniperus virginiana be ingested?
Dangers: do not ingest leaves or leaf products of Juniperus virginiana, which contain thujone.
What are the berries on Eastern Red Cedar called?
They are called red cedar berries or juniper berri es because they are a deep purple-blue color with a white wax coating.
What are red cedar berries?
This tree's "berries" are actually small seed cones that can be used to grow Eastern red cedar trees or Western red cedar trees. Eastern red cedar berries are also used in cooking to add mild flavoring to various dishes.
What is the difference between a red cedar tree and a red cedar tree?
The Eastern red cedar tree (Juniperus virginiana) is a tree in the Juniper family, while Western red cedars are in the Cyprus family (Thuja plicata). Western red cedar is cultivated for cedar wood in Europe and, in North America, was so widely used by indigenous people that it has been called “the cornerstone of northwest coast Indian culture," ...
What are Eastern red cedar berries used for?
The Eastern red cedar berries are still harvested today and used both in cooking and for medicinal purposes . The berries, when chewed, are said to relieve mouth sores and are used as a mild antiseptic, while oil made from the berries was used to treat dysentery. Note that the berries are not mature when they first appear, but ripen and turn dark blue after three years on the tree.
How to collect purple berries from a tree?
Collect ripe seeds by spreading a tarp under a tree branch that contains many purple berries. Wearing gloves to protect your hands, shake the tree and then gather the berries from the tarp. Some people have success using berry pickers.
How tall is a red cedar tree?
The Western red cedar is taller, shooting up to 150 feet in USDA zones 6 through 8. These native trees are often buttressed at the base and can produce numerous leaders with arching branches. The smaller branches are drooping, with scale-like pointed leaves, shiny green above with a white stripe below. Seed cones are ellipsoid, 4 to 5 inches long, and brown; there are about 8 to 14 seeds per cone; these seeds are 1 1/2 to 3 inches long, with lateral wings about as wide as the body.
What is the purpose of berries?
The berries, when chewed, are said to relieve mouth sores and are used as a mild antiseptic, while oil made from the berries was used to treat dysentery. Note that the berries are not mature when they first appear, but ripen and turn dark blue after three years on the tree.
What are some uses for strawberries in Alaska?
Food uses: All the normal berry stuffs – snacks on the trail, jams, jellies, various desserts. The spring shoots and leaves can also be eaten and can be dried and added to teas.
What are lingonberries used for?
Medicinal use: The mashed berries were used to help relieve itchy skin eruptions like that of measles.
When to harvest lowbush cranberries?
Also known as lowbush cranberries. It is best to harvest these after the first frost. If you don’t want to wait that long, you can gather them and leave them overnight in the freezer or keep them that way until you need them. Food use: You can make lingonberry sauce, kind of like cranberry sauce.
Can you eat cranberries with nut bread?
If you like to bake, they can be good additions to nut breads. Medicinal use: Because of the high vitamin C content, eating cranberries or drinking the juice is helfpul during colds. As most people know, cranberries are also good for any problems with the urinary tract.
Is bunchberry good for you?
Medical studies from the University of British Columbia have shown that it is also good for slowing down the growth of tuberculosis bacteria. The juice of the berry is said to help with eye soreness and cataracts. I love eating bunchberries as a trail snack! Bunchberries/Dwarf Dogwood Cornus canadensis, C. suecica.
Can you make jelly out of elderberries?
While you can make jelly out of Elderberries, be sure to take the seeds out!
Is dogwood poisonous?
Now, if you’ve heard that dogwood is poisonous, that would be the American Dogwood, which is a tree. Food use: This little thing is edible. While it’s bland in taste, it has a lot of pectin, so you can add it to your jams, jellies, and preserves to thicken it instead of buying pectin.
Where do cedar trees grow?
Some of the oldest trees are thought to be as much as 1,000 years old. Where it Grows: Cedar thrives in moist soils along bottoms, flats, and mountain slopes. It prefers wet, misty forests, and is very common on the west side of the Cascade Mountains from Northern California up into S.E. Alaska.
What is the scientific name for a cedar tree?
Scientific Name: Thuja plicata. Identifying Cedar: Cedar is a distinctive tall evergreen tree with a drooping leader, a wide buttressing base, and a fibrous, fluted trunk with gray to cinnamon-red bark. Greenish-yellow leaves are flat with opposite scales. Branches are often J-shaped.
Why is cedar good for you?
Here is why I love it: Cedar improves blood flow so you can take in more oxygen, clear waste products, and get more nutrients to tissue. It activates immune cells, which directly fight microbes and also clean up the waste products of infection. Essential oils in cedar inhibit bacterial and fungal growth.
What are cedar fibers used for?
Soft fibers have been used for clothing, mats, napkins, and towels. Weavers create beautiful ornate cedar baskets and hats from narrow strands of cedar bark. Outer cedar roots are dug and used in basket making. Branches were traditionally made into rope, fish traps, binding material, and baskets.
What are some of the names of the red cedar trees?
Salish names for Western red cedar include “Long Life Giver”, “Rich Woman Maker” and “Mother.” Northwest Coastal Native People have artfully fashioned grand longhouses, swift and rot-resistant canoes, durable clothing, watertight baskets, cordage, tools, art, medicine, and many other things from cedar. It made possible the rich culture and historic wealth of Northwest Coastal Indian People through providing for them from birth to death.
How big are cedar cones?
They are ingeniously engineered to funnel those pollen grains in like wind turbines. The largest cedar trees are up to 19 feet in diameter and 200 feet tall. Some of the oldest trees are thought to be as much as 1,000 years old.
Why is cedar bark important?
Cedar bark is prized for its durability, flexibility, and water resistance. It is peeled from trees with straight trunks by making a single cut and pulling upward on the trunk.
Edibility – Cedar Berries and Foliage
- Eastern red cedar berries and other non-toxic junipers have been used in a number of ways. Native Americans often added juniper berries to food dishes and grains like flour for a hint of flavor. Deer and other meat was often cooked with Juniper berries. They were prepared different ways by different tribes but some of the preparation methods includ...
Health Benefits
- The berries of Eastern Red Cedar have a number of medicinal uses. A Tea made from the berries has been commonly used for the treatment of coughs and colds, and to expel intestinal worms. Chewing the berries may help with mouth soars. External application may help with infections and warts due to the plants antiseptic properties. Like so many other unknown edibles, Eastern Red …
Cautions
- Eastern Red Cedar is considered a non-toxic species of Juniper, though it does contain some level of toxins. Partaking of extremely large amounts of the plant or consuming its essential oil could lead to acute poisoning, although rare, which might include abortion, vomiting convulsions or death. Most Juniper species are not significantly toxic, and no Native American species are. The…
Key ID Features
- One way to identify junipers from other evergreens is to notice the distinct difference between the 2 types of foliage that are often present on the same tree. There is a longer sharp and pointed foliage and there is a very short scale-like rounded foliage. These 2 distinct types of foliage are also present on some similar looking plants like those in the Chamaecyparis genus. The overall …
Conclusion
- Eastern Red Cedar is a common tree in New England and other parts of the Eastern United States. Eastern red cedar berries and foliage be used to add a natural flavor to meat and grain dishes. Knowing where the nearest Eastern Red Cedar is could also help if you have a cough or cold. Native Americans used this plant for a number of things, and realizing its potential will enrich ou…