Eastern Red Cedar Christmas Tree

Eastern red cedar.

Eastern red cedar christmas tree.

Prior to the availability of plantation grown christmas trees wild eastern redcedars were the tree of choice for many in the south. The eastern red cedar is a popular christmas tree in the southern u s where it is a native species. This evergreen isn t a true cedar. Juniperus virginiana is a dense slow growing coniferous evergreen tree that may never become more than a bush on poor soil but is ordinarily from 5 20 m or 16 66 ft tall with a short trunk 30 100 cm or 12 39 inches in diameter rarely to 27 m or 89 ft in height and 170 cm or 67 inches in diameter.

The oldest tree reported from west virginia was 940 years old. The eastern redcedar is an ancient tree dating to aboriginal america where fossil evidence indicates it covered large portions of the continent. The eastern redcedar is found in texas oklahoma kansas nebraska and in almost every state to their east then northward to the southern ontario and quebec. Arthur barlowe and phillip amadus were quoted as saying the trees were the tallest and reddest cedars in the world when they arrived at roanoke island in 1564.

Early explorers took note of the tree. Unlike some species that must be pruned regularly to maintain the traditional cone shape the eastern red cedar comes by its pyramidal crown naturally. It makes an attractive christmas tree with probably the most pleasing aroma of any tree. Eastern red cedar because of its broad growing tolerances makes an exceptional windbreak tree in regions with lots of wind intense or long lasting summer heat or bitter winter cold.

By sharon brown sharran december 25 2012. It s a member of the juniper family. Eastern red cedar is native to north america. Red cedar goes by many common names including southern red cedar eastern red cedar and even pencil cedar more on that later.

These cold hardy adaptable evergreen trees serve many purposes in the landscape especially in sites that are dry alkaline or windy. It also was the signal. The eastern red cedar tree range. It s one of several evergreen species grown on florida christmas tree farms.

Because they are quite salt tolerant they can be used near roads driveways and sidewalks. To the west native red cedar tree range only occurs east of the great plains but has been successfully spread toward the west by natural regeneration from planted trees. Eastern red cedar juniperus virginiana eastern red cedar is considered the traditional southern christmas tree by many people who can still remember going out in the woods for one as a child. Its pleasing form makes red cedar also popular as a cut or living christmas tree.

About a week or two before christmas my dad would say anybody want a christmas tree this year that was the signal for a trip up the mountain to find the very best christmas tree that would fit into our living room.