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Eastern Red Cedar

Juniperus virginiana

In the Carolinas and Georgia, found in glades, barrens and outcrops on limestone; glades, barrens and outcrops on mafic or serpentine rock; forests and woodlands; roadsides, fields and disturbed ground. Weakley, Flora of the Southeastern United States (2025), Carolinas & Georgia edition What its natural habitat tells you

59
Strong

Native to Arkansas (estimated). How scores work Is it native here?

Profile 100%

Height
30–40 feet
Spread
10–20 feet
Light
Full sun, Partial shade
Soil moisture
Somewhat dry to moist

Space about 15 ft apart from its recorded spread. Enter your bed size for a count

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At a glance

Life cycle
Woody perennial
Leaves
Evergreen
Bloom
January to March
Fruiting season
October to November

Recorded in 65 Arkansas counties.

Natural habitats

Places it grows wild. Not a planting requirement. Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

1 of 4

Glades, barrens and outcrops on limestone

Open, thin-soil openings and rock on limestone, dolomite or other lime-rich rock, including cedar glades.

Glades, barrens and outcrops on mafic or serpentine rock

Open, thin-soil openings, outcrops and cliffs on dark, magnesium- or iron-rich rock such as serpentine, diabase or gabbro.

Forests and woodlands

Forest or woodland where the source does not say how moist or dry.

Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground

Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.

All habitats

Also found with this plant

Wildlife whose habitat models include habitats this plant grows in, in Arkansas. Shared habitat, not food. 104 animals.

Widespread birds also seen here (60)

Found in many habitats here, so not listed above.

All wildlife of Arkansas

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

What these records mean

36CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including AR

Genus host records with ranges including AR · Juniperus

  • Callophrys gryneusJuniper Hairstreak
  • Acronicta americanaAmerican Dagger
  • Argyresthia alternatellaHoney-Comb Micromoth
  • Callophrys niphonPine Elfin
  • Choristoneura fumiferanaSpruce Budworm Moth
  • Choristoneura houstonanaJuniper Budworm
  • Digrammia continuataCurve-Lined Angle
  • Eacles imperialisImperial Moth, Imperial Spiny Caterpillar
  • Elaphria versicolorVariegated Midget
  • Elasmopalpus lignosellaLesser Cornstalk Borer
Show all 36
  • Eupithecia miserulataCommon Eupithacia, Common Pug
  • Glena plumosariaCedar Grey, Dainty Gray
  • Henricus edwardsianaContrasting Henricus
  • Hyphantria cuneaFall Webworm
  • Lambdina fiscellariaHemlock Looper, Western Oak Looper
  • Lithophane lemmeriLemmer's Pinion
  • Macaria distribuariaSouthern Chocolate Angle
  • Macaria multilineataMany-Lined Angle
  • Oiketicus abbotiiAbbot's Bagworm Moth
  • Orgyia leucostigmaWhite-Marked Tussock Moth
  • Palthis angulalisDark-Spotted Palthis
  • Papilio troilusSpicebush Swallowtail
  • Patalene olyzonariaJuniper Geometer
  • Periploca nigraJuniper Twig Girder
  • Platynota stultanaOmnivorous Leafroller
  • Prochoerodes lineolaLarge Maple Spanworm Moth
  • Spodoptera latifasciaOrange-Striped Armyworm, Velvet Armyworm Moth
  • Spodoptera ornithogalliYellow-Striped Armyworm Moth, Cotton Cutworm
  • Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformisEvergreen Bagworm Moth
  • Argyresthia freyella
  • Coleotechnites australis
  • Coleotechnites obliquistrigella
  • Isophrictis similiella
  • Periploca cata
  • Periploca laeta
  • Periploca mimula
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
0BeesSoutheastern regional records
0Specialist beesPollen specialists
13BirdsRecorded eating Juniperus in Arkansas

Diet records by plant genus, from studies across North America. Not a record from this state. Birds whose range includes Arkansas, most records first.

Show all 13
Avian Diet Database (Hurlbert Lab)

Direct food only. Caterpillars on host plants also feed nesting birds. NC Native Plant Society: butterfly gardening

No records yet · Ants · Beetles · Flies · Adult butterflies / moths · Other wasps · Other insects

Birds that eat Juniperus 13

Diet records by plant genus, from studies across North America. Not a record from this state. Avian Diet Database (Hurlbert Lab), CC0 1.0.

Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Cupressaceae
Hardiness
Zones 2a–9b
Soil pH
Acidic to alkaline
Flower color
Green
Growth rate
Slow
Growth habit
Single stem
Foliage color
Green
Fruit begins
October
Fruit ends
November

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope

Conservation status

Arkansas rankSNR
Global rankG5
AR statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

In your garden

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Sources