Cedar Tree Seeds, Eastern Red Cedar
(Juniperus virginiana) Evergreen. Zones 3-9.
Eastern Red Cedar is a hardy evergreen conifer that loves open, sunny habitats. Native to North America, East of the Rockies, this strong tree tolerates heat, wind and salt just fine. It is well suited to planting in a windbreak.
Dense and slow growing, Eastern Red Cedar may only reach shrub status in poor soil; with plenty of sun and adequate soil conditions, it can grow to 40-50 feet with an 8-20 foot spread. Whatever its size, it will assume a dense, pyramid shape. The oldest reported Eastern Red Cedar grew to be a very respectable 795 years old!
Eastern Red Cedar has two types of leaves - sharp spreading needle-like leaves and smaller scale-like leaves when the tree matures. The fibrous, reddish-brown bark peels off in thin strips. Small, smooth, wingless seed cones ripen to blue, and remain through Winter, until eaten by birds - most notably, the Cedar Waxwing.
Eastern Red Cedar provides food and habitat to browsing wildlife; wild birds eat the berry-like fruit and take shelter in the evergreen foliage. The inner red bark can be used to make a red dye and the outer, fibrous bark makes excellent tinder for fire starting. The fragrant Red Cedar softwood was used for over a century to make furniture and pencils, until these industries diminished its population.
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Cold Hardiness: Zones 3 - 9
Edible: No
Size: Large
Growth Rate: Slow
Nitrogen Fixer: No
Native Plant: Yes, Native to Eastern North America
Germination: 50 - 70%
Sun Requirements: Full sun to part shade.
Soil Preference: Tolerates most soils, but prefers well-drained soil.
Note: Eastern Red Cedar should not be planted near apple trees due to cedar-apple rust
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GROWING INSTRUCTIONS
- Soak Seeds in hot tap water for 6 hrs. Follow with 90-120 days cold, moist stratification. For more information on stratification, check out our article "How To Start Your Tree Seeds".
*If you are doing the cold period in your fridge, please check on your seeds. 90 days is an estimate & they may sprout sooner.*
- Plant stratified seeds in pots or a nursery bed using standard potting soil. Sow seed 1/4 deep, mulch the seed bed, keep moist, and cover with some shade. Heat mats are NOT required & can hinder germination!
- Transplant Red Cedar seedling outdoors when it reaches over 6 inches high. Be mindful of delicate root system of the seedling. Late Fall through early Spring is the best time for transplanting weather.
- Protect young tree seedlings from slugs, cutworms & rodents. Slugs especially can eat primary leaves as soon as they come up, so be vigilant!
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Available direct from Incredible Seeds, a Canadian Heirloom and Heritage Seed Company, offering only the best natural, non-GMO, open pollinated and untreated seeds, located in Mi'kma'ki / Nova Scotia.
