Is mountain cedar the same as juniper?
Despite its common name, the mountain cedar actually belongs to the juniper family! The scientific name for mountain cedar is Juniperus ashei. There are around 70 species of evergreen trees and shrubs in the juniper family, many of which are called “cedars.” Click to see full answer.
Is Juniper a cedar tree?
McGreevy said early Texas pioneers first called ashe juniper trees “cedar” because of its similarities to Eastern red cedar, but neither tree is truly a cedar tree. “When the Europeans first came here (to the New World) and they encountered our Eastern red cedar, they called it cedar because of its aroma.”
Do cedar trees have berries?
Only the male cedar trees yield pollens. The females, on the other hand, yield berries containing seeds. Although some species of true cedars are acclimatized and found in the US, none of the species are native. As a defensive adaptation against squirrel predation, the seeds of cedar consist of two or three blisters, which contain a bad-tasting resin.
Is red cedar a juniper tree?
Red cedar is a member of the cypress family, Cupressaceae, which also includes sequoias and redwoods. Despite its common name, red cedar is actually a juniper (its Latin name hints to that). It has fine leaves that are pale green and prickly when young; as the tree ages, the foliage darkens and flattens out, scale-like.
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How can you tell juniper from cedar?
What's the best way to decipher a juniper from a cedar? Look at the size of the tree—junipers usually grow as shrubs. The leaves of the juniper are needlelike, not fanning, and the small cones they produce resemble berries.
Why are juniper trees called cedar?
0:432:32Cedar vs. Juniper: Why we call it 'cedar fever' when cedar isn't to blameYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOur eastern red cedar which is also called aromatic cedar they were calling it cedar cedar cedarMoreOur eastern red cedar which is also called aromatic cedar they were calling it cedar cedar cedar because it smelled like cedar trees found in europe and asia.
How do you identify a juniper?
A helpful way to perfect juniper tree identification is by looking at its cones. Juniper cones on male trees are small and either yellow or tan. The female plants produce colorful berries, which are actually modified cones. Northwest species berries turn blue at maturity, but some species have red berries.
Is a red cedar a juniper?
What is Eastern Red Cedar Like? Although called a 'cedar', this tree is actually a juniper – an evergreen bush with small leaves, either triangular and pointed, or flat and scale like, and small round cones.
Is a cedar tree a type of juniper?
Eastern Red 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.
Is Texas cedar a juniper?
If you are a Texan, you're likely to be familiar with at least one cedar tree species. What we call “cedars” here in Texas are actually members of the juniper genus (Juniperus spp.).
What does a common juniper look like?
The common juniper's leaves are more like scales than coniferous needles. Some common junipers have spiny needle-like leaves that grow in whorls of three: The leaves are sharp-pointed and glossy green with a broad white band on the upper side. The adult tree shape is often narrowly columnar.
What does juniper look like?
Juniper has evergreen, prickly, small, blue-green needles with a central white stripe, stiff, arranged in clusters of three. It slightly resembles gorse in its appearance, especially by its bushiness but unlike gorse, it does not regenerate readily after fires.
How do I identify a cedar?
Cedars have bluish-green needles, growing in groups along woody branches. Another identification feature of true cedar trees is their large, barrel-like cones that grow upward on branches rather than dangle. A mature cedar tree has reddish-brown bark with long scales that are easily peeled.
What is juniper wood good for?
It's a natural insecticide, and is highly rot-resistant. It has the performance of pressure-treated wood without the chemicals, and it is cost-comparative with both redwood and cedar and lasts longer than both. All in all, juniper is perfect for a retaining wall, garden box, fencing, decking, or siding.
Do cedar trees have juniper berries?
Sprawling or upright ornamental shrubs often found in gardens, junipers bear bluish-black berries in fall and winter. Cedar trees, such as Juniperus virginiana, also bear these aromatic, soft berries on branch tips.
Are mountain cedar and juniper the same?
Mountain Cedar (or Ashe Juniper) is one of the most potent allergens. Pollen from mountain cedar and juniper trees is responsible for the mid-winter phenomenon known as cedar fever in central Texas. Pollen is released during December and January and can be carried by prevailing winds for miles.
What is a cedar tree called?
Cedrus, common English name cedar, is a genus of coniferous trees in the plant family Pinaceae (subfamily Abietoideae).
Do cedar trees have juniper berries?
Sprawling or upright ornamental shrubs often found in gardens, junipers bear bluish-black berries in fall and winter. Cedar trees, such as Juniperus virginiana, also bear these aromatic, soft berries on branch tips.
Is mountain cedar and juniper the same thing?
Despite its common name, the mountain cedar is actually a juniper (Juniperus ashei). Every year around December, we blunder into the midst of the cedar's mating ritual. It begins with the appearance of the male cones—embarrassingly small, amber-colored structures no larger than a grain of rice.
Does juniper wood smell like cedar?
What do the Wild Western junipers smell like? Juniperus californica produces a woody, cedar smell from both its foliage and its wood. Juniperus communis smells like gin. Some of the Far Western species of juniper smell of both; it depends upon where you sniff.
What is a cedar tree?
Cedar trees are large evergreen conifers that have needle-like leaves that are arranged spirally on scented woody branches. Cedars grow at high altitudes and thrive in full sun and well-draining soil. There are four species of cedar trees in the genus Cedrus, belonging to the pine ( Pinaceae) family.
How to tell if a cedar tree is mature?
Another identification feature of true cedar trees is their large, barrel-like cones that grow upward on branches rather than dangle. A mature cedar tree has reddish-brown bark with long scales that are easily peeled. Another way to identify cedars is by their enormous height—growing up to 160 ft. (50 m).
How to identify a Deodar cedar tree?
To identify Deodar cedar trees, look for drooping branches growing on these tall conifers. Its needle-like leaves grow in small, dense clusters on short shoots. The foliage can be from bright green to bluish-green color. The barrel cones grow up to 5” (13 cm) long, and the bark of Deodar cedar is gray and scaly.
What is the name of the tree with large scales?
Pictures of cedar bark with its large scales (left) and upright cones and needles (right) Cedars are evergreen trees that can be identified by their needles, cones and bark. Cedars have bluish-green needles, growing in groups along woody branches. Another identification feature of true cedar trees is their large, ...
How big does a deodar tree grow?
However, in a park or garden landscape, they don’t usually grow more than 50 ft. (15 m) with a 30 ft. (9 m) spread. The wood from Deodar cedars is prized for its durability and attractive grain. Timber from these cedars is used in the construction industry. However, the cedar lumber isn’t ideal for furniture making.
How tall do cedars grow?
Also called the Atlanta cedars, these cedars are suitable for planting in large backyards. They don’t grow to more than 40 ft. (12 m) tall in garden landscapes and are ideal for full sun and hot, arid conditions. Some ornamental cultivars include the Golden Atlas Cedar ‘Aurea’ with golden foliage, Blue Atlas Cedar ‘Glauca’ with its bluish green needles, the ‘Glauca Pendula,’ with weeping branches, and ‘Argentea Fastigiata’—an upright columnar tree with a pencil shape.
What is the name of the Atlas cedar tree?
Atlas Cedar ( Cedrus Atlantica) In these pictures: Cedrus Atlantica ‘Glauca Pendula’ (left) and Cedrus Atlantica ‘Aurea’ (right) The Atlas cedar tree is a type of true cedar tree that looks similar to varieties of Lebanon cedars. This type of conifer tree gets its name from the Atlas mountain of Morocco.
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 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 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 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.”.
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?
Is an ashe juniper male or female?
Some ashe juniper trees are male and others are female plants. The male trees bear mountain cedar pollen cones at the tips of the branches. Fruiting cones that look like berries appear on female trees. They provide food for wildlife.
How many species of Juniper are there?
These species can look very different from each other. There are 50 to 67 species of juniper across the northern hemisphere.
What kingdom are junipers in?
Image Credit: Vladimir_Pankov/iStock/GettyImages. Junipers, pines and arborvitaes belong the gymnosperm division of the plant kingdom , meaning that they produce seeds exposed to the air rather than enclosed inside a flower. All three plants are evergreen and commonly used in landscapes.
What is the smallest pine tree?
The smallest types of pine is the Siberian dwarf pine and Potosi pinyon, while the tallest is the Ponderosa pine. Arborvitae also grows in nature as a tree, reaching heights of about 50 feet. Junipers, on the other hand, tend to grow in low, shrubby forms, often acting as a groundcover.
How big do pine trees get?
Pines tend to grow as trees, with species like the eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) exceeding heights of 250 feet if allowed to reach full maturity.
Do junipers have scales?
Junipers may also present small, very sharp needles in addition to their scale- like foliage. Pines, on the other hand, develop the needle-like foliage of the typical evergreen.
Do pines have needles?
Pines, on the other hand, develop the needle-like foliage of the typical evergreen. On pines, needles arise from the stem in clumps of two or more, distinguishing them from other evergreens, where needles arise singly. Advertisement.
Do junipers grow fast?
Junipers, for example, often function as groundcovers or as shrubs. The dense growth habit of arborvitaes makes them a natural choice for screens and hedges. In addition, arborvitaes grow quite quickly, which is another boon to home gardeners.
