Plant
Eastern red cedar
Juniperus virginiana
Also known as: red cedar, Virginia juniper
A native juniper — actually a juniper, not a true cedar — that pioneers abandoned fields, sandy soils, and disturbed sites across eastern North America. Common on Staten Island's South Shore (Mount Loretto, Conference House) and in former-pasture-now-meadow zones. Aromatic wood (long-used for cedar chests), berry-like cones eaten by 50+ bird species, and one of the most-important winter-food sources for resident songbirds.
Scientific
Juniperus virginiana is a 30–60 ft evergreen with scaly leaves and blue, berry-like cones (technically female cones, not berries). Pioneer species — quickly colonizes abandoned fields, sandy soils, exposed disturbed sites. Slow-growing once established; long-lived (300+ years possible).
The aromatic heartwood (true “cedar smell”) repels moths and is the traditional material for cedar chests and closet linings. The wood is also rot-resistant — long used for fence posts, boat construction, and architectural detail.
The blue cones are eaten by ~54 bird species. For winter resident birds in the Northeast, red cedar berries are one of the most-important food sources during the cold months.
On Staten Island
Common on the borough’s South Shore, especially [[mount-loretto-unique-area|Mount Loretto]], [[conference-house-park|Conference House Park]], and at meadow-and-pasture-edge sites borough-wide. Often the first tree to establish on abandoned land. Distinctive silhouette — narrow, conical when young; spreading and irregular when mature.
See also
Auto-generated from this entry’s typed relations: frontmatter, grouped by relation type so the editorial signal isn’t flattened.
- Member of: [[plants]]
- Contained by: [[staten-island]]
Sources
- USDA Forest Service Silvics of North America: eastern red cedar
- USDA NRCS plant species accounts
Rooted in life.
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