THE FRENCH CALLED IT baton rouge or red stick; we call it redcedar; actually it's a juniper. Redcedar will grow on almost any type of soil from the river bottoms to the barest rock bluff. It is found over most of the eastern United States including all of our state. Many variations in form, growth habits and coloration, plus its hardiness, have made it an ideal tree for ornamental purposes. There are many varieties which have been isolated and propagated as ornamentals. An old Ozark superstition says that when any cedar tree which you planted grows tall enough to shade your grave, you will die. So commonly has cedar been planted as ornamental in cemeteries, it is sometimes called graveyard tree.
An easy way of identifying this tree is by crushing the foliage and smelling the attractive juniper odor produced by the flat, scale-like leaves. The outer needles and needles on the new growth are sharp. On older twigs or deeper in the crown they are rounded and smooth. Redcedar trees, with the help of the birds scattering the seed, are quick to invade abandoned or poorly managed pastures. Their round, tear and column shapes stand out like ghosts on a bright landscape on a moon-lit night. In summer, these trees have a deep emerald green color, but in winter outer branches and exposed trees turn a copper yellow to rusty brown color.
Bright waxy-blue berries are borne on female trees. The sexes are separate on all junipers. Oil from these berries is used to flavor gin.
Fragrant oils permeate the rich, red-colored wood. Since this odor repels moths and adds a welcome woodsy fragrance to clothes, redcedar is widely used for cedar chests and closet paneling. Some cedar is used for furniture. Cedar novelties are almost trademarks of the Ozarks. Missouri is the leading producer of cedar novelties which are shipped all over this country and exported to some foreign countries. Because of its durability many cedars are used for fence posts. In the past, when it was more abundant, it was widely used for fence rails and later for pencils.
Redcedar's versatility extends still further. It is an excellent wildlife tree. Berries are sought as winter food by many songbirds. In turn the birds spread the seed when it passes through their digestive tracts. Farmer often struggle to keep it out of fence rows and pastures where the birds later roost. Doves and other birds seek the protection of the heavy foliage for their nests. Many animals use it both as food and shelter in the cold winter months, even deer browse on it heavily in winter. Wildlife plantings should include red cedar, for as a windbreak tree it is hard to beat.
Like all junipers, red cedar is an alternate host to the cedar-apple fungus disease. On wet spring days the orange, jelly-like fingered balls become apparent on many cedars. These are the spore forming organisms of the fungus. In theory, no cedars should be planted within a mile of apple orchards. However, it is usually necessary to spray apples anyway and any good fungicide will control the disease.
An easy way of identifying this tree is by crushing the foliage and smelling the attractive juniper odor produced by the flat, scale-like leaves. The outer needles and needles on the new growth are sharp. On older twigs or deeper in the crown they are rounded and smooth. Redcedar trees, with the help of the birds scattering the seed, are quick to invade abandoned or poorly managed pastures. Their round, tear and column shapes stand out like ghosts on a bright landscape on a moon-lit night. In summer, these trees have a deep emerald green color, but in winter outer branches and exposed trees turn a copper yellow to rusty brown color.
Bright waxy-blue berries are borne on female trees. The sexes are separate on all junipers. Oil from these berries is used to flavor gin.
Fragrant oils permeate the rich, red-colored wood. Since this odor repels moths and adds a welcome woodsy fragrance to clothes, redcedar is widely used for cedar chests and closet paneling. Some cedar is used for furniture. Cedar novelties are almost trademarks of the Ozarks. Missouri is the leading producer of cedar novelties which are shipped all over this country and exported to some foreign countries. Because of its durability many cedars are used for fence posts. In the past, when it was more abundant, it was widely used for fence rails and later for pencils.
Redcedar's versatility extends still further. It is an excellent wildlife tree. Berries are sought as winter food by many songbirds. In turn the birds spread the seed when it passes through their digestive tracts. Farmer often struggle to keep it out of fence rows and pastures where the birds later roost. Doves and other birds seek the protection of the heavy foliage for their nests. Many animals use it both as food and shelter in the cold winter months, even deer browse on it heavily in winter. Wildlife plantings should include red cedar, for as a windbreak tree it is hard to beat.
Like all junipers, red cedar is an alternate host to the cedar-apple fungus disease. On wet spring days the orange, jelly-like fingered balls become apparent on many cedars. These are the spore forming organisms of the fungus. In theory, no cedars should be planted within a mile of apple orchards. However, it is usually necessary to spray apples anyway and any good fungicide will control the disease.
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