How far apart should I plant Eastern red cedar?

About 4 m (13 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 3–6 m (10–20 ft).

Does Eastern red cedar need full sun?

Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.

How much water does Eastern red cedar need?

Low water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance moderate.

How cold-hardy is Eastern red cedar?

It tolerates about -40 °C (-40 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 3.

When does Eastern red cedar flower?

From about March for 2–4 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).

Is Eastern red cedar poisonous to cats and dogs?

For cats it is mildly toxic; for dogs mildly toxic; for people mildly toxic. Cone berries and foliage contain aromatic oils that can irritate the stomach and skin.

What grows well with Eastern red cedar?

There is no well-documented companion pairing for Eastern red cedar. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).

Eastern red cedar Juniperus virginiana

Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is an evergreen perennial tree in the Cupressaceae family, native to Eastern and central North America. It grows 8–15 m (26–49 ft) tall and 3–6 m (10–20 ft) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -40 °C (-40 °F). Space plants about 4 m (13 ft) apart.

Plan Eastern red cedar in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.

Eastern red cedar at a glance

Type	Perennial tree, evergreen
Family	Cupressaceae
Mature height	8–15 m (26–49 ft)
Mature spread	3–6 m (10–20 ft)
Spacing	4 m (13 ft) centre to centre
Sun	Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day
Water	Low; drought tolerance high, waterlogging tolerance moderate
Soil pH	5–8
Cold hardiness	About -40 °C (-40 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 3)
Heat stress	Likely above about 38 °C (100 °F)
Flowering	from about March for 2–4 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones)
Wind tolerance	High
Pollinator value	None
Edible	Not grown as food
Native to	Eastern and central North America
Common in gardens of	🇺🇸 United States

Is Eastern red cedar toxic?

People: mildly toxic
Cats: mildly toxic
Dogs: mildly toxic
Parts: berry-like cones, foliage, wood oil

Cone berries and foliage contain aromatic oils that can irritate the stomach and skin.

If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.

Companion planting: what to grow with Eastern red cedar

No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.

Keep apart or take care

caution With Common hawthorn: Cedar-hawthorn rust needs both a juniper (eastern red cedar) and a hawthorn to complete its life cycle; spores can travel hundreds of metres, so keeping them about 50 m or more apart only lowers the risk. Evidence B
caution With Dwarf apple tree: Cedar-apple rust alternates between eastern red cedar and apples or crabapples; planting them close together raises the chance of leaf spot and fruit lesions on apples. Evidence B

Shared pests and diseases

Cedar-apple rust: The rust needs both a juniper and an apple-family host; spores travel hundreds of metres. Evidence B

See Eastern red cedar in a botanical garden

It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:

Questions about Eastern red cedar

How far apart should I plant Eastern red cedar?: About 4 m (13 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 3–6 m (10–20 ft).
Does Eastern red cedar need full sun?: Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
How much water does Eastern red cedar need?: Low water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance moderate.
How cold-hardy is Eastern red cedar?: It tolerates about -40 °C (-40 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 3.
When does Eastern red cedar flower?: From about March for 2–4 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
Is Eastern red cedar poisonous to cats and dogs?: For cats it is mildly toxic; for dogs mildly toxic; for people mildly toxic. Cone berries and foliage contain aromatic oils that can irritate the stomach and skin.
What grows well with Eastern red cedar?: There is no well-documented companion pairing for Eastern red cedar. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).

Sources and evidence

Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).

Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder, Missouri Botanical Garden
USDA PLANTS Database, USDA NRCS
University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions

Notes and assumptions

Alternate host for cedar-apple rust and cedar-hawthorn rust; keep away from apples, crabapples and hawthorns.
Dioecious; only female trees bear the blue cones. Very resinous and flammable.

Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.

Related plants

Creeping juniper Juniperus horizontalis
Leyland cypress x Cuprocyparis leylandii
Hinoki cypress Chamaecyparis obtusa
Dawn redwood Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Bald cypress Taxodium distichum
Northern white cedar (arborvitae) Thuja occidentalis
Common juniper Juniperus communis
Coast redwood Sequoia sempervirens