Where did western red cedar come from?
They are completely different species and should not be confused. The western red cedar tree comes from western North America, especially British Columbia and the surrounding areas. It is a large, slow-growing, softwood tree. It can also be found in western Europe and Australia.
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.
Where does Redwood grow the most?
Though they once thrived throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere, today redwoods are only found on the coast from central California through southern Oregon. They do not live more than 50 miles inland, and are usually found in long belts, rather than small groves. People also ask, how long does it take for a redwood tree to grow to full size?
Where does the giant red cedar tree live?
- The western red cedar is also known as the giant arborvitae, western arborvitae, giant red cedar, Pacific red cedar, and canoe cedar. ...
- This tree has the distinction of being the official tree of the British Columbia.
- The western red cedar was known as the Tree of Life by the Native Americans.
Where does red cedar grow in the US?
The Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana L.) is the most widely distributed conifer in the Eastern United States and native to Kansas. Red cedar is not a true cedar, but rather a member of the Juniper genus having a cone or fruit that is fleshy and berry-like rather than woody.
What type of habitat does red cedar thrive in?
Ecological characteristics. The Red Cedar is found by bodies of water and is very prevalent around the Great Lakes. These trees will be found on the shore of the the body of water. They can live in many different types of enriched soil which include some clay soils and some sandy soils, however, it thrives in wetlands.
Where do cedars grow naturally?
Cedrus, common English name cedar, is a genus of coniferous trees in the plant family Pinaceae (subfamily Abietoideae). They are native to the mountains of the western Himalayas and the Mediterranean region, occurring at altitudes of 1,500–3,200 m in the Himalayas and 1,000–2,200 m in the Mediterranean.
Where does red cedar wood grow?
Juniperus virginiana, also known as red cedar, eastern red cedar, Virginian juniper, eastern juniper, red juniper, and other local names, is a species of juniper native to eastern North America from southeastern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico and east of the Great Plains.
What is special about red cedar?
The wood is long lasting, and is known for having a subtle and attractive aroma. Red cedar may be found as a natural choice fencing, roofing, siding and decking. It doesn't swell or warp, and may be used in humid climates and in many outdoor projects.
Is Red cedar toxic?
The Western Redcedar (Thuja plicata) and Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana), also known as aromatic Cedar. Caution- Eastern Red Cedar is actually quite toxic if ingested.
Are there any true cedars in the United States?
Cedars have been successfully introduced into areas outside of their natural range. The 4 species of Cedrus, 3 of which are planted to some extent in the United States, are C. atlantica (Atlas cedar), C. brevifolia (Cyprian cedar), C.
Where does cedar grow the most?
True cedars (and remember, that is all that we are discussing here!) hail from the mountains of the western Himalayas of Asia and the Mediterranean region of Europe, where they are often found at high altitudes. Cedars are generally hardy to zone 6, although cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) is a bit more tender.
Why do native Americans burn cedar?
Cedar is one of the most important Native American ceremonial plants, used by many tribes as an incense and purifying herb. Cedar is especially associated with prayer, healing, dreams, and protection against disease.
Is red cedar good firewood?
Many cedars, including red cedar, are especially poor firewood choices. You should not use most cedar species in any stove or fireplace you value. Obviously, the wood will burn, but it should be used only in an open outside area where smoke and explosive heat are of less concern.
Is red cedar a real cedar?
Title: Western red cedar (Thuja plicata) Western red cedar is a resilient and versatile species that can be used in a wide variety of exterior and interior building applications. It is one of the most valuable conifers owing to the unique colour, texture and durability of its wood.
What is red cedar wood used for?
Common Uses: Fence posts, closet and chest linings, carvings, outdoor furniture, birdhouses, pencils, bows, and small wooden specialty items.
What animals live in the red cedar?
Red Cedar forests provide nesting habitat for Cooper's Hawk, and roosting habitat for owls—especially Eastern Screech-owl, Short-eared Owl, and Northern Saw-whet Owl. Many songbirds also use Red Cedar for nesting and roosting, including Field Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, and Brown Thrasher.
What eats red cedar trees?
Beetles, Moths and Weevils Pests of western red cedars that eat bark include cedar and cypress bark beetles, cypress bark moths and pine weevils.
What grows in a cedar forest?
Plants: The forest canopy is mostly of Eastern Red Cedar, but is sometimes shared with other trees such as Red Maple, Red Oak, White Ash, Shagbark Hick- ory, Hop-hornbeam, Common Buckthorn, and White Pine.
Is red cedar deciduous?
Eastern Redcedar is an evergreen tree that may grow 30 to 40 feet tall. The tree has scale-like, closely oppressed, glandular leaves. The bark is red-brown in color, exfoliating in long, fibrous strips, often ashy gray where exposed.
What is a red cedar tree?
Red cedar ( Juniperus virginiana) is a lovely Florida native that adds year-round greenery and texture to your landscape. With attractive, dense foliage, it's often used as a wind break or a screen. It also has a high salt tolerance, making it great for coastal areas. Its pleasing form makes red cedar also popular as a cut or living Christmas tree; it's one of several evergreen species grown on Florida Christmas tree farms. Red cedar goes by many common names, including southern red cedar, eastern red cedar, and even pencil cedar (more on that later).
What is the color of the leaves on a red cedar tree?
It has fine leaves that are pale green and prickly when young; as the tree ages, the foliage darkens and flattens out, scale-like. The bark is reddish-brown and fibrous, often peeling off. The female red cedar has showy purple-blue fruits which attract birds. 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.
When was pencil manufacturing important in Cedar Key?
In fact, this industry was greatly important in Cedar Key and North Florida during the late 1800s and early 1900s. The pencil manufacturing industry in Cedar Key flourished until, as was sadly common during that era, local resources were depleted.
Can red cedar trees grow in Florida?
This tree is highly tolerant of both drought and salt spray, making it an excellent choice for a variety of landscapes. Red cedar does well in most soils, including clays, but will not grow in over-irrigated or continuously moist areas.
Does red cedar grow in clay?
Red cedar does well in most soils, including clays, but will not grow in over-irrigated or continuously moist areas. Red cedar is an alternate host for cedar apple rust, which is a major disease of apples, hawthorns, and pears.
Is red cedar a living tree?
Its pleasing form makes red cedar also popular as a cut or living Christmas tree; it's one of several evergreen species grown on Florida Christmas tree farms. Red cedar goes by many common names, including southern red cedar, eastern red cedar, and even pencil cedar (more on that later). Some southeastern botanists make a distinction between ...
Facts About Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana)
The eastern red cedar ( Juniperus virginiana) is a mid-sized conifer in the genus Juniperus and the family Cupressaceae. Also known as the red cedar, eastern redcedar, or Virginian juniper, the coniferous tree is not classified as a species of true cedar —genus Cedrus and family Pinaceae.
Eastern Red Cedar Tree Leaves
Leaves on the eastern red cedar tree are identified as soft, scale-like blueish-green or dark green sprays, growing tightly together on the stems. The compact leaves grow on characteristic four-sided or square branchlets.
Eastern Red Cedar Bark
Bark on the eastern red cedar trunk and twigs is described as distinctly thin with a gray to reddish-brown color. The red cedar has identifiable peeling bark that shreds in long thin strips. The scaly bark can appear somewhat smooth on immature red cedars, and the grayish bark exfoliates, revealing red bark.
Eastern Red Cedar Flowers
Flowers on the eastern red cedar conifer are tiny golden yellow inconspicuous flowering buds. Botanically, the red cedar flowers are classed as strobili and are cone-like structures. The male red cedar flowers are oval to egg-shaped and are around 0.06” (1.5 mm) long. The greenish yellow female cedar flowers are a similar size to the male ones.
Eastern Red Cedar Fruit
Fruit from the eastern red cedar tree is small blue berry-like cones that are related to juniper berries. The small blue cedar berries have a frosted appearance and grow abundantly on the tree. The blue edible berries have a better taste than juniper berries with a sweet pine-like flavor.
Eastern Red Cedar Seed Cones
Cones on the eastern red cedar tree develop from the blue berries. The red cedar cones are irregular egg-shaped and contain one to three seeds. Eastern red cedars start producing seed-bearing cones after ten or 20 years. Typically, mature red cedars produce seed-bearing cones every two or three years.
Eastern Red Cedar Tree Growth Rate
Eastern red cedar trees have a slow to moderate growth rate. The coniferous red cedar grows around 12” to 24” (30 – 45 cm) per year and takes ten to 20 years to reach maturity at approximately 40 or 50 ft. (12 – 15 m) tall. The single-stemmed tree keeps its columnar, pyramidal appearance for most of its life.
How long does it take for Eastern Red Cedar to grow?
When grown from seed in nurseries, Eastern red cedar will take one to two years to reach an appropriate size for replanting. Trees taking root in the wild will develop large, strong root systems in rocky and shallow soil. However, specimens in such conditions will take longer to grow upward than those in standard soil.
How tall is Eastern Red Cedar?
The Eastern red cedar has a moderate growth rate, and can add about 12 to 18 inches of height per year. Mature trees aged 50 and older are usually 40 to 50 feet tall though they may reach 120 feet.
How tall is a red cedar tree?
These trees can add 24 to 30 inches of height per year. Trees are generally 70 to 100 feet tall at maturity, though old growth specimens can be as tall as 200 feet. Old growth trees are those believed to be at least 1,000 years old. Thus, while Western red cedar reaches a mature height at a moderate growth rate, it may continue at a slow growth rate for centuries.
Why are red cedars so similar to other trees?
Though trees such as Western red cedar and Eastern red cedar are largely unrelated species, they have somewhat similar growth rates because they are large trees native to environments with comparable climates and moisture content. The growth rate of red cedars is moderate and varies slightly based on cedar type.
How long does it take for a cedar tree to produce cones?
Western red cedar trees begin producing cones between 10 and 20 years of age. Optimal cone crops begin when trees reach 70 to 80 years and can continue for centuries. Red cedar will grow well in soils with high mineral content.
How long do cedar trees live?
Optimal cone crops begin when trees reach 70 to 80 years and can continue for centuries. This species can live for nearly 1,500 years. Red cedar will grow well in soils with high mineral content.
Is Western Red Cedar an adaptable tree?
Western red cedar is described as an adaptable species. These trees can adapt to a number of growth environments, including shade growth beneath large, established trees. In such conditions, growth rate is slow but the specimen will grow steadily over long periods.
Where is red cedar native to?
Western red cedar, (Thuja plicata), also called western arborvitae, giant arborvitae, or Pacific red cedar, an ornamental and timber evergreenconiferof the cypressfamily (Cupressaceae), native to the Pacific coast of North America.
Where is the Western Red Cedar tree?
Western red cedar, an ornamental and timber evergreen conifer of the cypress family (Cupressaceae), native to the Pacific coast of North America. It is found as a tree or shrub. Western red cedar trees may grow up to 60 meters (about 200 feet) tall, and they have cinnamon-red or brownish bark.
What is a conifer plant?
conifer, any member of the division Pinophyta, class Pinopsida, order Pinales, made up of living and fossil gymnospermous plants that usually have needle-shaped evergreen leaves and seeds attached to the scales of a woody bracted cone. Among living gymnosperm divisions, the conifers show little similarity to the Cycadophyta and Gnetophyta…
How tall do red cedar trees get?
Western red cedar trees and shrubs are pyramidal in form. The trees may grow up to 60 metres (about 200 feet) tall and 6 metres in circumference, measured above the strongly buttressed base.
How many pairs of scales are there on a cedar tree?
The egg-shaped or slightly elongated cones, 8 to 12 mm (0.3 to 0.5 inch) long, bear five to six pair s of thin flexible scales. Western red cedar.
What class is a conifer?
The leaves of evergreens usually…. Conifer, any member of the division Pinophyta, class Pinopsida, order Pinales, made up of living and fossil gymnospermous plants that usually have needle-shaped evergreen leaves and seeds attached to the scales of a woody bracted cone.
What is an evergreen plant?
Evergreen, any plant that retains its leaves through the year and into the following growing season. Many tropical species of broad-leaved flowering plants are evergreen, but in cold-temperate and Arctic areas the evergreens commonly are cone-bearing shrubs or trees (conifers), such as pines and firs.
What is Eastern Red Cedar?
Eastern Red Cedar Facts. Eastern red cedars ( Juniperus vinginiana) are also known as juniper, savin evergreen, cedar apple, and Virginia red cedar. The trees are shaped like a pyramid or column with grayish to reddish-brown bark. The foliage is blue-green to green and needlelike.
When do red cedars flower?
Pollen is released from these tiny organs at the end of the winter to pollinate the female structures. Red cedars then flower early in the spring. Native Americans used red cedar for incense or to burn during purification rites. The Blackfeet made a berry tea of the red cedar to combat vomiting.
How to propagate Eastern Red saplings?
If you aren’t in a hurry, gather fruit in the fall. Try to pick only ripe berries and pick plenty since germination rates tend to be iffy. The seeds can then be stored as berries or cleaned seeds.
What is red cedar used for?
Red cedars can often be found in cemeteries as ornamentals. The wood is used for furniture , paneling, fence posts, and novelties. Both the fruit and tender young branches contain oil that is used in medicines. As mentioned, many birds and small mammals rely on the cedar for shelter during the winter months.
How to grow cedar from cuttings?
Try to take the cutting in the early morning. To grow a cedar from a cutting, you will need a 3 to 6 inch (7.5-15 cm.) piece of current year’s growth. Choose a branch that is flexible and light brown and cut it at a 45-degree angle.
How to get a sage plant in the ground?
Plan to get them in the ground within an hour or two. Fill a medium sized pot with a soilless potting mixture. Dip the cut portion of the cutting in rooting hormone, tap off any excess and put the cutting into the soilless mix. Pat the mix firmly down around the cutting.
How big do red cedar trees get?
The western red cedar can grow to a giant size, from 65 to 70m (210 to 230ft) tall with trunks that can range 3 to 7m (10 to 23ft) in diameter. A solitary tree may have a crown that reaches the ground, but where trees have grown close together the crown will only be at the top where it can get enough light.
What wildlife is the Western Red Cedar valuable to?
In North America, the Western Red Cedar in northern forest settings will be a hideout for bears, raccoons and skunks. Where there are trees on the outskirts of towns, close to forests, these can draw the animals into town.
What are the fruits or seeds of the Western REd Cedar?
Simple round flowers bloom in late autumn and give the tree a golden appearance
What is the scientific name for a red cedar tree?
The scientific name of the western red cedar is Thuja plicata . It also carries the name of Pacific red cedar, giant or western arborvitae (Latin for tree of life). Because of the sizes it can grow, it is sometimes called giant cedar.
What is the bark color of cedar?
The bark of the western red cedar is a deep reddish brown. We prize the bark for its durability, water resistance, and its flexibility. They peel strips of bark up to 27 feet long from straight tree trunks by making a single cut and pulling upwards.
How to identify a j-shaped tree?
The thick, fluted trunk with grey to reddish fibrous bark is the easiest way to identify, that with the branches which are often shaped as a j on it side, with the end pointing slightly up.
What is red brown wood used for?
We value it for its distinct appearance, aroma, and its high natural resistance to decay, being extensively used for outdoor construction in north America as posts, decking, shingles, and siding.
Where does red cedar grow?
Eastern Red Cedar grows throughout every state east of the Mississippi River, from Maine to Florida (to my knowledge). Western Red Cedar grows in the Sierra Nevada and the Cascades in California, Oregon, and Washington (to my knowledge). 399 views. Mike Alan.
Where are cedar trees native to?
Cedars native to the eastern U.S. include the following. Each species’ common name (or names) is given first, followed by the scientific name. Northern white cedar, Thuja occidentalis, found in the northeast, Midwest, and high Appalachians.
What family is Cedrus in?
Genus Cedrus is classified in the family Pinaceae. Pinaceae includes the following genera.
How many acres of cedar are there in Lebanon?
Rare in Lebanon, only 5000-7000 acres (2000-3000 ha) of forest remain in small patches across the country. However, it is still plentiful in Turkey. There are only three species of Cedars in the world: the Lebanon cedar, the Deodar of the Himalayas and the Mount Atlas Cedar.
How many species of cedar are there?
True Cedars belong to the genus Cedrus and there are four extant species.
Where does cedar come from?
Cedar of Lebanon, Cedrus libani, from Lebanon. This is the Biblical cedar. Deodar cedar, Cedrus deodara, from the Himalayas. Atlas cedar, Cedrus atlantica, from the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. Cyprus cedar, Cedrus brevifolia, from the island of Cyprus.
What is a western juniper called?
A number of different western juniper species are sometimes called cedars. Cedar place names in the Southwest, Great Basin region, and the Rockies usually indicate the presence of a juniper species.
Where is red cedar native to?
Not to be confused with the western redcedar ( Thuja plicata ), which is native to the western U.S. and an entirely different species, the eastern redcedar is native to the eastern half of the United States. Hardy in USDA zones 2 – 9, it is widely distributed from Canada to Florida and west to Texas.
What birds are in the eastern red cedar tree?
The dense branches of the eastern redcedar provide important refuge and shelter for song birds and game birds, such as quails, bobwhites, ruffed grouse, pheasants, and turkeys. Butterflies and small mammals also benefit from the cover this tree provides.
What is red cedar used for?
Finding the heartwood to be rot-resistant, the colonists used it to construct furniture, rail fences, poles, coffins, and log cabins. It is famously known for its fragrant oil, which is a natural insect repellant. Because the scent repels moths, the aromatic wood has been used for centuries in the construction of chests, closets, and wardrobes to protect woolen clothing. Redcedar sawdust or wood chips may also be used in kennel bedding to repel fleas and minimize odors.
What is the problem with eastern red cedar?
Another problem with the eastern redcedar is its role as an alternate host for cedar-apple rust, a Gymnosporangium pathogen that is destructive to pome fruit trees such as apple, pear, and quince. By the way, pome fruits are members of the plant family Rosaceae, sub-family pomoideae.
How to tell if a red cedar tree is male or female?
Eastern redcedars are dioecious, which means that male and female trees are separate plants. It’s easy to tell the difference between the two. While both bloom in late winter, female eastern redcedars produce green flowers and the males produce yellow flowers. The female trees bear small (quarter-inch), fleshy, berry-like cones that appear in spring and mature in the fall. The “berries” are generally blue with a whitish bloom, giving them a gray-blue appearance, and contain 1 to 4 seeds each. The male trees bear brown, pollen-bearing cones on the branch tips. Their pollen is dispersed by the wind.
What color are berries on a sage tree?
The “berries” are generally blue with a whitish bloom, giving them a gray-blue appearance, and contain 1 to 4 seeds each. The male trees bear brown, pollen-bearing cones on the branch tips. Their pollen is dispersed by the wind. The fragrant, scale-like foliage is sticky to the touch and can be coarse or fine-cut.
How big do a spruce tree get?
Above ground, the tree grows 1’ to 2’ per year on a single trunk. It matures at about 40’ to 50’ tall and 8’ to 20’ wide, becoming rounder with age. Very old specimens are capable of growing 80’ or more feet tall and 30’ or more feet wide.