Juniperus virginiana

Redcedar can also be propagated by grafting, layering, and from cuttings. Cuttings may be rooted outdoors during the winter by taking tip cuttings. It is also easily propagated from seed. There is approximately 43,600 seeds/lbs. The seeds have a thick coat, and exhibit both seed coat and chemical dormancy [Rietveld 1989]. Germination is generally enhanced by warm moist stratification (23 deg C for 6 weeks) followed by cold moist stratification (5 deg C for 10 weeks) [Rietveld 1989].

Eastern redcedar provides important food and cover for many wildlife species including birds and mammals (Carey and Gill 1980). Animals that eat the fruit: cedar waxwing, northern bobwhite, ring-necked pheasant, ruffed grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, wild turkey, American robin, starling, mourning dove, northern mockingbird, willow flycatcher, purple finch, common crow, northern flicker, myrtle warbler, downy woodpecker, evening grosbeak, pine grosbeak, hermit thrush, fox sparrow, yellow-bellied sapsucker, eastern bluebird, kingbird, rabbits, foxes, skunks, opossum, and coyote [Arend 1950, Blewett 1986, Lawson 1990, Martin et al. 1951, Phillips 1910, Van Dersal 1938].

A field and pasture tree of dry sandy and rocky soils, commonly in old fields, along fence-rows and on the edge of forest in Louisiana and east Texas. Although it grows on a wide range of soils, it generally exhibits best development on deep, well-drained alluvial soils derived from limestone. It ranges from Maine, west to North Dakota, south to Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Georgia. Eastern red cedar is an important source of fence posts, supposedly responsible for giving Baton Rouge (red stick) its name. Juniperus virginiana is also a source of timber for chests, paneling, and cedar-leaf oil. It is cultivated and often used by the people of south Louisiana as Christmas trees. The berries produce a blue dye. The bark from dead trees makes excellent tinder for starting fires. The inner bark can be used to make cordage (Chase 1965). The wood of eastern redcedar is attractive, durable, fine textured, and easily worked [Lawson 1990, Van Haverbeke and Read 1976]. However, it is not considered an important commercial timber species [Lawson 1990]. It is restricted to sites which are protected from fire and as a result of grazing, and increased fire suppression, eastern redcedar has increased its range [Abrams 1986, Bryant 1989].

Variety of soils, especially calcareous. Dry hillsides to swamps.

Eastern redcedar is moderately heavy, hard, moderately weak in bending, and high in shock resistance. The wood is fine-textured and even-grained, with the well known "pencil cedar" taste and odor. The wood works easily with tools, shrinks very little in drying, stays in place well after seasoning, and is very resistant to decay. Is usually available only in fairly small sizes, and generally is quite knotty. Principal use has changed from fence posts to novelty items. Lumber is used where its fragrance and reputed moth-repellent qualities are valued such as in storage chests, closets, and wardrobes. It is also used for millwork, pencils, woodenware, and containers such as buckets.