•Status in Florida: Native
•Size at Maturity: Typically grows 30-50 feet tall, with a spread of 8-20 feet.
•Phenology: Coniferous tree with small, scale-like leaves that are dark green in color. Produces small, berry-like cones.
•Life Cycle: Perennial
•Bloom Season: Typically blooms in late winter to early spring.
•Deciduous, Dioecious, Evergreen: Evergreen
•Sunlight Requirements: Full sun to partial shade
•Soil Texture: Well-drained sandy, loamy, or clay soils
•Soil pH: Tolerant of a wide range of soil pH levels, but prefers slightly acidic to neutral soils (pH 5.0-7.5)
•Moisture Requirements: Drought-tolerant once established, but prefers moderately moist soil
•Tolerance to Salt Spray: Moderate tolerance
•Recommended Landscape Uses: Provides excellent windbreak and privacy screening. Suitable for naturalized areas, wildlife habitats, and as a specimen tree in landscapes.
•Maintenance Tips: Red Cedar is relatively low-maintenance but may benefit from occasional pruning to maintain shape and remove dead or diseased branches.
•Considerations: Can be susceptible to certain pests and diseases, such as cedar-apple rust. Plant away from apple and crabapple trees to reduce the risk of infection.
•Edible: The berries of Red Cedar are technically edible but are generally not considered palatable for humans.
•Medicinal Uses: Red Cedar has traditional medicinal uses in Native American cultures, including the use of its leaves and berries in herbal remedies.
•Toxicity to Pets: The foliage and berries of Red Cedar are toxic to pets if ingested in large quantities, causing gastrointestinal upset.
•Florida Native Companion Plant: Red Cedar pairs well with other native species such as saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) and beautyberry (Callicarpa americana).
•Wildlife Benefit: Provides habitat, cover, and food for a variety of wildlife species. The berries are an important food source for birds, including cedar waxwings and robins.
•Caterpillar Host Plant: Yes, Red Cedar serves as a host plant for several species of moth caterpillars, including the Juniper Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus) and the Cedar Hairstreak (Callophrys gryneus neglecta).
