Cedar Tree

Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is a native evergreen that is really a juniper, so it is not related to eastern white cedar. The oldest one on record, in West Virginia, was about 940 years old. We ship bare-root cedar trees in 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4 foot sizes, in packs of 25 to 500, for windbreaks, screens, fence lines and wildlife cover.

Eastern Red Cedar Size, Zones and Sun

Most trees reach 16 to 66 feet with a short trunk, and the foliage stays dense and compact. The tree is hardy in zones 2-9 and grows in full sun. Roots are fibrous and widespread, which is why it handles drought and grows in rocky, sandy and clay soils as well as moist, rich ground.

Berries, Birds and Wildlife

Female trees carry dusty blue, berry-like cones coated in white wax. The cones take 6 to 8 months to ripen. Cedar waxwings are especially fond of them, and seeds that pass through a waxwing sprout about three times as often as seeds that were not eaten. Turkeys, bluebirds, rabbits, foxes, raccoons and coyotes eat the cones too, and the thick foliage gives winter shelter and nesting sites. Most trees are male or female, so plant a group if you want berries. Read our guide to the eastern red cedar tree for more on how it grows.

Cedar Wood and Uses

The fragrant heartwood resists rot even in the ground, which makes it a long-standing fence post wood. Moths avoid it, so it lines cedar chests and closets. It has also been used for bows and pencils.

Good to Know About Cedar

Cedar-apple rust needs both an apple tree and a red cedar to finish its life cycle. Home apple trees and orchards are the ones affected, so set cedars on the far side of the property from them. For size, sun and planting notes, see our eastern cedar tree care guide.

Cedar Tree Sizes, Packs and Shipping

Cedar trees ship bare-root in November, in three heights and packs of 25, 50, 100 and 500. Volume pricing available. Browse more evergreen conifers for sale.