How Fast Will a Wild Eastern Red Cedar Grow?

Growth Rate

• The eastern red cedar tree, or Juniperus virginiana, is considered to possess a medium rate of growth, which, according to the Arbor Day Foundation, denotes a tree that grows between 13 and 24 inches annually. An evergreen specimen that retains its foliage, this tree achieves a mature height of between 40 and 50 feet with a spread of 8 to 20 feet. It grows into a pyramidal shape, and its berries are revered as a snack by birds.

Environment

• How fast a wild eastern red cedar grows is determined by a variety of conditions, chief among them the geographic locale in which it is planted. The eastern red cedar thrives in U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zones 2 through 9, an area that encompasses nearly all of the country. It can be found in abandoned fields and throughout forests across the eastern U.S. and the plains states. It grows especially well in limestone soil, although it is tolerant of most types of earth.

Considerations

• Also called red juniper or savin, the eastern red cedar appreciates full sunshine or partial shade and is tolerant of salt spray and runoff, a trait that allows it to maintain a vibrant state even when growing near roadways and ditches. The growth rate of the tree is rarely adversely affected by either drought or occasional flooding, although growth can be damaged if the surrounding soil is overly-irrigated on a continual basis.

Pests and Disease

• Pests are not a significant problem for the eastern red cedar, although severe infestations can limit how fast the tree grows. Bagworm caterpillars are frequent residents amid the branches of the tree, and juniper scale results in a yellowing of needles, causing the infected branches to stop growing. The juniper webworm causes a browning of twigs and needles and their eventual death. Twig blight is the primary disease affecting the easten red cedar, browning and killing the twigs of the tree.