Eastern Red Cedar
Best healthy evergreens for reliable landscape planting.
The Eastern Red Cedar Tree is a hardy and adaptable evergreen, prized for its dense foliage and fragrant wood. It serves as an excellent choice for privacy screens, windbreaks, and as a wildlife habitat, offering year-round visual appeal. This tree thrives in full sun and is remarkably tolerant of poor soils and drought conditions, making it a low-maintenance addition to any landscape. Its fragrant, durable wood is also a notable characteristic. The Eastern Red Cedar is a reliable and resilient tree that provides both aesthetic beauty and ecological benefits.
$19.99
Owner Satisfaction
4.5
/ 5
Category Rank
512
/ 1251
#512 in Trees
Price vs Category Average
-81%
Below average
Botanical name
Juniperus virginiana
/ Juniperus virginiana
Who it's for
- Gardeners seeking a tough, adaptable, and low-maintenance landscape plant.
- Homeowners desiring continuous privacy, windbreaks, or winter garden structure.
- Nature enthusiasts and those wanting to support local biodiversity.
Who should skip it
- Orchard owners or gardeners with apple and crabapple trees nearby.
- Landowners with pastures or open fields susceptible to unwanted tree colonization.
- Individuals who prefer soft-textured plants or require frequent close interaction.
Performance breakdown
Environmental Adaptability
Thrives in diverse soil conditions and withstands significant drought stress.
Privacy Screening
Dense evergreen foliage creates an effective, year-round natural barrier.
Ecological Impact
Provides essential shelter and food sources for local bird populations.
Maintenance Requirements
A truly set-it-and-forget-it tree for low-effort landscape management.
Growth Rate
Moderate pace requires patience for reaching full privacy screen height.
Aesthetic Versatility
Classic evergreen structure complements both formal and wild garden designs.
Key Specs
Botanical name
Juniperus virginiana
USDA hardiness zones
2-9
Growth speed
Moderate
Light requirements
Full sun
Mature height
30-50 feet
Mature spread
8-20 feet
Type
Evergreen
Features
- Versatile Evergreen for Landscaping
- Fragrant and Durable Wood
- Hardy and Adaptable to Poor Soils
- Drought Tolerant
- Attracts Wildlife
- Provides Privacy and Windbreaks
What customers say
Customers consistently express high satisfaction with the robust health and vitality of the Eastern Red Cedar saplings upon delivery. A dominant theme is the exceptional quality of the plants, often arriving well packaged and in pristine condition, ready for successful establishment. This careful handling and the inherent vigor of the trees contribute significantly to a positive planting experience. Many appreciate the strong growth potential and the overall value received, making this a favored choice for those seeking reliable, healthy evergreens.
Know before you buy
To create a dense privacy screen, space your Eastern Red Cedars approximately 6 to 10 feet apart. This allows enough room for the trees to mature while ensuring their branches eventually overlap to form a solid barrier.
Yes, the Eastern Red Cedar is exceptionally hardy and adaptable, thriving in USDA zones 2 through 9. It is built to withstand a wide range of climates, from freezing northern winters to intense summer heat.
This is a low-maintenance evergreen. Once established, it is highly drought-tolerant and capable of growing in poor soil conditions, requiring very little intervention beyond occasional pruning if you wish to shape it.
Yes, for the best growth and foliage density, these trees should be planted in a location that receives full sun. While they are adaptable, they will struggle to maintain their shape and health in heavily shaded areas.
The Eastern Red Cedar has a moderate growth rate. While it is not an instant-growth species, it provides steady, reliable progress toward its mature height of 30 to 50 feet over several years.
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$20