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Cressler, Alan

Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola

Juniperus virginiana L. var. silicicola (Small) Silba

Southern Red Cedar, Southern Redcedar, Sand Cedar, Coast Juniper

Cupressaceae (Cypress Family)

Synonym(s): Juniperus barbadensis, Juniperus lucayana, Juniperus silicicola, Juniperus virginiana ssp. silicicola, Sabina silicicola

USDA Symbol: JUVIS

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Evergreen aromatic tree with narrow or spreading crown, lower branches drooping; sometimes forming thickets.

This southeastern coastal relative of Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is distinguished by its often drooping foliage and smaller "berries" and is planted as an ornamental. The wood is similarly used for fenceposts, cedar chests, cabinetwork, and carvings. The Latin name silicola means "growing in sand."

From the Image Gallery

5 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Cone
Size Notes: Up to about 30 feet tall.
Leaf: Green
Fruit: Seed cones blue. Though technically incorrect, the seed cones are often referred to as berries.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May

Distribution

USA: AL , FL , GA , LA , MS , NC , SC
Native Distribution: Chiefly near coast, from North Carolina south to Florida and west to SE. Texas; near sea level.
Native Habitat: Stream/river banks, Near lakes or ponds, Swamps, Marshes

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Clay, Acid-based.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Attractive
Use Wildlife: Cover, Nesting site, Seeds-granivorous birds, Seeds-Small mammals.
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: Olive butterfly.

Bibliography

Bibref 298 - Field Guide to Texas Trees (1999) Simpson, B.J.
Bibref 1620 - Gardening with Native Plants of the South (Reprint Edition) (2009) Wasowski, S. with A. Wasowski
Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 3 - Flora of North America (2014) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

USDA: Find Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Juniperus virginiana var. silicicola

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-10-06
Research By: TWC Staff

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