Description

Leaves: Awl-shaped or scale-like; pressed close to the twig; not arranged in overlapping pairs; variable in color; retains blue-green color in winter; evergreen.

Twigs/buds: Twigs slender, older twigs red-brown and nearly glabrous; bark peeling off; finest twigs covered by foliage.  Buds very small; indistinct; not useful for identification purposes.

Flowers/fruit: Dioecious.  Berry-like fruit takes two years to mature; nearly round; 1/4" to 1/3" in diameter; bright blue; often covered with a white coating; usually contains 2 seeds.

Bark: Brown to gray; fibrous; peels in narrow strips.

Wood: Soft; lightweight; light red heartwood with narrow white sapwood; see eastern redcedar for uses.

General: Occurs naturally from the western Great Plains throughout the Rocky Mountains and southwestern Canada, including Utah.  Very drought resistant.  Shade intolerant.

Landscape Use: Often used in windbreaks due to its toughness and retention of lower branches; also good for visual screens and foundation plantings.  Many cultivars in the landscape trade with a wide variety of foliage colors; needs (and wants) very little water once established.  Zones 3-7.

Cultivars: 'Blue Creeper', 'Blue Heaven', 'Blue Trail', 'Cologreen', 'Gray Gleam', 'Medora', 'Moonglow', 'Pathfinder', 'Skyrocket', 'Sutherland', 'Tolleson', 'Tolleson's Blue Weeping', 'Tolleson's Green Weeping', 'Welchii', 'Wichita Blue'.
 

Characteristics