Species red cedar
Light-green leaves and stems

red cedar

Juniperus virginiana 'Grey Owl'

Red Cedar, or Juniperus Virginiana 'Grey Owl', is a sustainable evergreen conifer of the cypress family. Rich in hues of green and grey, the foliage is soft-textured with a naturally rounded form. Growing up to 20 feet tall, this tree has a sprawling, dense canopy with a unique ‘owl-eye’ look. It naturally grows in a variety of habitats in North America, from east to west, and prefers full sun with well-drained soil. Red Cedar is an ideal choice for privacy or windbreaks, and adds a unique and striking visual element to any landscape.

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Average

Propagation:

Cutting,Grafting Propagation,Layering Propagation,Air Layering Propagation,Seed Propagation

Hardiness Zone:

2 - 9

Flowers:

Non-flowering Flowers

Sun:

Full sun

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green

Growth Rate:

Low

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Salt Tolerant:

Yes

Care Level:

Moderate

watering

Red Cedars should be watered deeply and infrequently. During the growing season, water the plant when the top inch of soil is dry. Depending on the humidity and the weather, that usually means watering every 7-10 days. During the cooler months of Autumn and Winter, water less frequently, with a longer drying out period between waterings. For example, water once a month if there is no rain and it hasn't rained in some time. When watering, make sure the soil is moist but not saturated. Too much water can damage the root system.

sunlight

Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana 'Grey Owl') typically receives between 4-6 hours of direct sunlight per day. However, it is important to note that the sunlight should be filtered through an area with lots of trees, as the plant can easily become sunburned if direct sunlight is too strong or in a sunny spot with no protection. Additionally, the ideal time of day for Red Cedar to receive direct sunlight is during the cooler morning and later afternoon hours, as this helps to protect the foliage from any harmful ultraviolet radiation that could be present during the height of the day.

pruning

Red cedar (Juniperus virginiana 'Grey Owl') should be pruned during the late winter or the early spring months. Pruning for a red cedar should focus mainly on trimming and shaping the plant over time. If the plant begins to become overcrowded, it may be necessary to reduce the size of the red cedar by removing some of the branches. Pruning should focus on thinning out some of the old growth as well as removing any dead, diseased, or damaged branches. Any side branches that are growing straight up should be cut back to the main structure in order to maintain the desired shape of the plant. It is important that when trimming a red cedar, that the cuts are clean and not too close, as too much pruning can cause the plant to shock.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Starts Flowering

Red cedar typically starts flowering in April.

Hardiness Map