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Red cedars ideal for giving homes to wildlife

Impenetrable, evergreen, native red cedar trees fence the perimeter of my property. I no longer see school buses, waiting parents or the endless parade of traffic to the cluster of mailboxes at the street corner. Birds nest, feed, perch and fly through the lush barrier. Rabbits burrow beneath and nibble at ground cover plants. Foxes, squirrels, raccoons, coyotes, bobcats and the odd bear wander through at will.

By JANE WEBER
Published December 25, 2006

At the edge of the front lawn is a 10-year-old specimen that is dense and now about 20 feet tall. This red cedar grew taller and faster because of nearby irrigation and humus-rich amended soil. Festooned with a living garland of passionflower vine that bloomed all summer, it is now decorated with fluttering gulf fritillary and zebra longwing butterflies laying their last eggs of the year. Perhaps the hatched caterpillars will overwinter in the dense layer of scalelike leaf litter under the cedar. Red cedar is the host plant for the caterpillar of the juniper hairstreak butterfly that breeds in Citrus County.

Red cedar, Juniperus virginiana (formerly J. silicicola), is long-lived and may grow over 60 feet high. Most scientists now consider southern and eastern red cedars to be varieties of the same species. Common names and nursery workers are hard to change. Erect and conical with low-growing branches, red cedar ranges throughout eastern North America from zone 3 to 9. Preferred exposure is full sun. It grows spindly with thinner density in part shade.

Tolerant of acid or alkaline soil with pH 5.0 to 8.0, it is salt-tolerant on the coastal plain. Cedars grow along the rocky shores of the barge canal and Withlacoochee River as well as in old fields and in deep sandy scrubland as long as the soil is well-drained.

Bark is reddish brown and exfoliates in shaggy, thin strips. Male and female cones are borne on separate trees. Having cones places red cedar among the gymnosperms with pine, cypress and coontie. Red and white cedar species grow naturally in Florida. Male cones are woody and yellowish while female cones are round, berrylike and dark blue.

Mature leaves are small and scalelike but crowded around the twigs and branches. Young leaves are prickly and sharp but will be shed as the tree gets older. Cedars in the nursery trade are commonly clipped to form a bushy cone shape. Home gardeners cannot maintain this practice so most red cedars are left to grow naturally with leaves right down to ground level. Let fallen leaves lie as a mulch so no weed seeds will sprout beneath your tree.

Even in summer when the sun is high there will be afternoon shade to the north of a mature cedar. Plant evergreen Encore azaleas to add a mass of spring, summer and fall color to your garden. Oakleaf hydrangeas will also grow well in a cedar's shade. Other companion plants include coontie, dwarf scrub palmetto, saw palmetto, Schelling's dwarf yaupon holly, fringe tree, camellias, needle palm, winged elm, redbud and dogwood trees.

The red cedars attract red cardinals, blue jays, yellow warblers and a flock of other interesting birds. Decorate for the holidays with strings of popcorn and cranberries on your cedars. Hook on ornaments made of pinecones slathered with a mix of peanut butter, suet, cornmeal and oatmeal to provide a feast for your feathered friends. Cut a few branch sprays and tie with a festive bow to create an aromatic door wreath. Happy holidays and good gardening in the new year.

Editor's note: This weekly article is provided by Jane Weber, professional gardener, grower, consultant, designer and environmentalist. Visit her Certified Florida Yard and Backyard Wildlife Habitat, 5019 W Stargazer Lane, Dunnellon. Call (352) 465-0649.

[Last modified December 24, 2006, 20:33:49]