(Juniperus virginiana) Perennial. 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. -------------------------------- 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 -------------------------------- GROWING INSTRUCTIONSFor best results, sow outdoors early-Fall. If sowing indoors...SEED PRETREATMENT: Soak seeds for 6 hours, with hot tap water. Then mix seeds with a moistened grow medium equal to 3-4 times seed volume. Place in a plastic bag or container. STRATIFICATION: After soaking seeds, start 30 days warm/moist (20°C), the top of your fridge is a good spot for this. Monitor for mold. Next, 90 days cold/moist (5°C), in your fridge is a good spot. Inspect periodically for even moisture and germination. Don’t let seeds dry out during the stratification period. POST-STRATIFICATION: Sow stratified seeds on the soils surface, tamp down gently. Seeds require light to germinate. Alternating soil temperatures during the day (30°C) and night (20°C) aids germination. Water evenly and regularly. GERMINATION: When all previously mentioned requirements are fulfilled, germination generally occurs in 60 days. *How To Start Your Tree Seeds* -------------------------------- 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.
