Juniperus virginiana
Object Details
- See more items in
- Smithsonian Gardens Tree Collection
- On Display
- National Museum of Natural History
- Accession Number
- 2011-1027A
- Description
- The eastern red cedar has historically been used medicinally by various Native American people. The tree is also known for its aromatic wood, which is a popular choice for making cedar chests due to its insect repelling properties. Females of this tree produce heavy “berry” crops, which are popular among birds.
- Hardiness
- -50 - 30 F
- Attracts
- Host for butterflies
- Ethnobotanical Uses
- Used by many tribes as incense in purification and ritual, and symbolizes the tree of life. Durable wood was used to make lance shafts, bows, and flutes. Menomini wove mats of cedar bark which were used for many purposes.
- Medicinal / Pharmaceutical
- Blackfeet tribe used the "berries" of this plant to make a tea to stop vomiting and as a general tonic. Blackfeet also used plant in a mixture to treat arthritis, rheumatism, or backaches. Cheyenne used red cedar to treat persistent coughs, as a sedative for calming a hyperactive person, to speed delivery in childbirth. Cheyenne, Flathead, Nez Perce, Kutenai, and Sioux used cedar to treat colds, fevers, tonsillitis, and pneumonia. Gros Ventres used cedar to cure asthma and control bleeding. Crow people used cedar for diarrhea, to stop lung or nasal hemorrhage, and after childbirth for cleansing and healing. Parts of cedar were listed in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia at various points as a diuretic and reagent.
- Provenance
- Uncertain
- Topic
- Trees
- Living Collections
- Range
- SE Canada to C and E USA, Mexico (Coahuila)
- Habitat
- Sandstone or limestone forests to clay or sand stream banks, 1-1000 meters
- Life Form
- Evergreen tree
- Average Height
- 30-65'
- Bark Characteristics
- Exfoliating, red-brown
- Bloom Characteristics
- Small, cone-like on end of short twigs.
- Cone Characteristics
- Round, berry-like cones, blackish-green. Contain 1 to 2 seeds. Ripen in fall.
- Dioecious
- Yes.
- Fall Color
- Brown-green
- Foliage Characteristics
- Dark, blue-green, scale-like
- Structure
- Broadly conical to columnar
- Data Source
- Smithsonian Gardens
- Common Name
- Eastern Redcedar
- Red Cedar
- Virginia Cedar
- Group
- [vascular plants]
- Class
- Equisetopsida
- Subclass
- Pinidae
- Order
- Cupressales
- Family
- Cupressaceae
- Genus
- Juniperus
- Species
- virginiana
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Record ID
- ofeo-sg_2011-1027A