Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana 'Taylor') is a dense, evergreen conifer native to Missouri's limestone bluffs and glades, prized for its exceptional drought resistance and hardy nature across zones 2 through 9. This broadly conical shrub reaches 15 to 20 feet tall and spreads 3 to 15 feet wide, with distinctive gray to reddish-brown bark that exfoliates in thin, shreddy strips. It thrives where many plants fail, handling everything from rocky, shallow soils to urban conditions, and draws birds throughout the year with its showy fruit.
Full Sun
Moderate
2-9
240in H x 180in W
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Moderate
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Few conifers match the drought resilience of Eastern red cedar; it tolerates the harshest eastern American conditions, from limestone glades to eroded slopes, while remaining vigorous in full sun. Its dense, horizontal branching creates a striking architectural form, and the exfoliating bark adds year-round visual interest even in winter. The showy fruit attracts birds reliably, turning your garden into a wildlife refuge without fussy maintenance or supplemental water once established.
Eastern red cedar serves as an excellent hedge plant and screening element, its dense branching and moderate width range (typically 3 to 15 feet depending on conditions and selection) providing reliable privacy and windbreak function. Its tolerance for poor soils, drought, and urban pollution makes it invaluable for erosion control on slopes and challenging sites where ornamental conifers typically languish. The showy fruit and year-round evergreen form also make it a strong choice for wildlife gardens and naturalistic landscapes.
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Pruning is rarely necessary for Eastern red cedar; its naturally dense, conical form and horizontal branching habit provide attractive shape without intervention. If you do prune to shape or control size, do so in late winter or early spring before new growth emerges.
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“Eastern red cedar is native throughout Missouri, where it naturally colonizes limestone bluffs, glades, wood margins, fields, pastures, and fence rows except in the southeastern lowlands. This species has been integral to the American landscape for centuries, dominating disturbed areas and rocky terrain where its superior drought tolerance gives it an edge over competing conifers. The 'Taylor' cultivar represents a selection or propagation from this robust native species, carrying forward its legendary hardiness into ornamental gardening.”