By Fred Wedel

Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus Virginiana) is the only evergreen tree native to Kansas. Before European settlement of the plains, the Eastern Red Cedar (ERC) were mainly found in eastern Kansas on bluffs, ridges or steep slopes. These areas were difficult to reach as prairie fires helped form the dominant grassland regions of Kansas.

Today the ERC has spread into most regions of Kansas from shelterbelt plantings or from the lack of prescribed fire on pastures and rangelands and into ecological sites where it was not originally growing. The Eastern Red Cedar is specifically adopted to dry, coarse, and calcareous soils.

Two trees that are widely used in shelterbelts or farm windbreaks are both Rocky Mountain Juniper and Eastern Red Cedar (ERC). Both are drought tolerant. The native range of ERC is Eastern North America, east of the Rocky Mountains. It is cold hardy to zone 2. It is one of the few trees that can grow from Texas and Florida north to Canada to the east coast of the United States.

Rocky Mountain Juniper is a better shelterbelt choice because they are not invasive.

On rangeland and pastureland ERC are an invasive plant species. Rangeland grass production can be reduced from 1% to 30% in some Kansas counties when ERC are widely scattered on the rangelands. The ERC trees are spread by birds eating and scattering the seeds. ERC trees are not spread by the roots of the trees.

The ERC trees do offer several benefits:

· Durable wood used for furniture, cabinetry, and fence posts (resistant to decay)

· Aromatic qualities: good for cedar chests, cabinetry, and fence posts, repels moths and pests

· High tolerance for harsh conditions, good for wildlife habitat

· Berries (seed) provide food for birds and mammals, nesting habitat for songbirds

· Essential ecosystem service: Provides cover for birds and small mammals

Eastern Red Cedar management involves a multi-disciplinary approach. A management plan needs to include the best combination of methods particular to the site being treated. This can include mechanical, biological, and/or chemical practices. ERC trees cut below the lowest branches will not regrow. Biological control can include goats for trees that are 3-4 feet tall. Goat diet consists of about 70% non-grass species.

ERC are “dioecious” which means that male and female trees are separate plants. Both trees bloom in late winter. Female ERC produce green flowers and male ERC produce yellow flowers. The heartwood of the ERC tree is rot resistant. ERC wood is famously known for its fragrant oil, which is a natural insect repellant. The dense branches of the ERC provide important refuge and shelter for songbirds and game birds such as quail, ruffed grouse, pheasant, and turkeys. Butterflies and small mammals also benefit from the cover the ERC provides. Berries are an important source of food for more than 50 bird species and a variety of mammal species including rabbits, foxes, racoons, skunks, opossums and coyotes. Twigs and foliage are also eaten by mule deer and whitetail deer.

ERC has some herbal properties. American Indians did make tea from the twigs as a remedy for sore throats and coughs. The berries themselves are believed to be mildly toxic. ERC is easily propagated by seed. Birds and small mammals eat the berries and then disperse the seeds along fence lines, telephone lines or other perching sites. ERC trees should be planted a minimum of 500 feet away from apple trees. ERC are relatively free of serious pest and disease problems.

Here is a list of tips for growing ERC trees:

1) Eastern Red Cedars grow well in full sun to partial shade conditions. As ERC grow larger, they prefer “full sun”

2) The native range of ERC in the United States keeps the ERC tree out of major temperature extremes. The ERC does not grow well in Southern Florida, chilly parts of northern Canada or in the Rocky Mountains where year-round temperatures are cool.

3) Choose a location from your home or other structures that are 25 to 30 feet away. The ERC can grow to 40 feet tall and 20 feet wide.

4) When planting ERC trees, they need to be watered regularly. The ERC don’t like standing water. Make sure the soil has decent drainage and don’t plant ERC in a swamp.

5) Don’t over prune ERC trees. ERC don’t do well with heavy pruning. It is best to avoid removing more than 25 to 30 percent of the branches

In summary, ERC trees are adapted to western Kansas and eastern Colorado. They are effective for windbreaks near homes and farmsteads. They also provide wildlife cover and nesting for birds during wintertime.

The Eastern Red Cedar also has Native Cultural Significance. It is regarded with special spiritual significance to many Native American Tribes. It is regarded and the “Tree of Life” or “Holy Tree” for many tribes. Native tribes use berries,

leaves and roots to make tea. The tea medicines are used to stop vomiting, treat back aches, arthritis, relieve persistent coughing, fevers and pneumonia. Also, the wood of the red cedar is very durable and was used in teepees, lance shafts, bows and other items. Cedar boughs were used for bedding, floor mats and various other purposes in canoes. Love flutes were crafted from the red cedar heartwood. Native Americans also used posts made from ERC to mark boundaries between Tribal Lands.