Cedar: Eastern Red(Juniperus virginiana)

untothee

I have two of these trees added to the family.

If anyone has any helpful info on these trees please share.

What I have found is that:

It's hard to virtually impossible to get them to back bud.

And they are not so good for bonsai.

I still plan to keep and train them regardless. But if anyone can share info, tips, etc. many thanks.

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Mcspeed

Do a search on that Cedar, I believe everything you mentioned got just the opposite remarks from several people that have Cedar: Eastern Red(Juniperus virginiana) from this site.

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lehket

I've had one for the past three years. I would agree with the first statement. I have so far not been able to get any backbudding on a couple of branches where I really need it.

However, I think that they could make excellent bonsai if one can start with good material and exercise sufficient care in its development. When I first started working with my eastern red cedar I didn't realize that backbudding would be a problem, and I took off more foliage than I should have. If I could start over, I'd leave a lot more on it, probably more than I would with many other trees.

I've also had some problems with inner branches dying. I don't know if this can be avoided or if it's just what this species does. I suspect it's maybe a bit of both.

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KenDuncan

Here is a pic of a Red Cedar (juniperus virginana) that I collected about 30 years ago. It takes a lot of pinching and wiring to keep it in good shape.
Probably not the best tree to make a bonsai out of.
Ken

Attached Images

red cedar 367X560.jpg (55.8 KB, 98 views)

Bob O

Hi Ken, nice job with a difficult subject. One of the best I've seen.

Bob O

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cray13

Ken,

I collected several Red Cedar last year and have been attempting to get some back budding.

Just wanted to say I immediately recognized your tree. It was displayed at the Carolina Bonsai Expo last year (2006) wasn't it. I took numerous pictures of your tree. To me it is proof that this species can make a decent bonsai.

It is nice to here a little history about this tree. So, have you been training this tree that entire time?

I know how much work and time it takes, but if you could put together a quick "cheat" sheet of how you would suggest caring for and training this species I'd really appreciate the information. Perhaps an article ?

Sorry, this is turning into a thread hijack. Very nice tree Ken, I hope to see it again at the expo this year and perhaps I can get some tips first hand if you have time.

lemonade

I have a nice northern white cedar, I think they are really similiar (red and white) you would be better off making it into a bigger bonsai, so the leaves look more in proportion. Mine has a 2-3 inch trunk and is about 2 and a half feet tall. And I haven't had alot of luck with back budding either, I got it once or twice, but the shoots were really weak.

rxweitz

Northern White Cedar is actually an Arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis), whereas Eastern Red Cedar is a Juniper (Juniperus virginiana). They are only distantly related.

Unfortunately, when the European settlers came to America, they labeled just about every connifer that wasn't a pine, larch, or hemlock, a "cedar". Thus you have in addition to the examples above, Western Red Cedar (Thuja plicata), Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides), Port Orford Cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana), Alaskan Yellow Cedar (Xanthocyparis nootkatensis), Incense Cedar (Calocedrus decurrens), etc. None of these trees are even in the same family as the true cedars (Cedrus species).

untothee

That's very similar to the idea I have for the larger one (three feet tall).
The smaller one (about a foot and a half tall) I'm thinking windswept. The foilage is thin and it's movement suggests this style. I'd post a pic but my camera is busted. When I can, I will.

Right now my concern is keeping them alive and healthy.


Thank you all for your help and comments.