EASTERN RED CEDAR
Common in the eastern half of the country, the Eastern Red Cedar is actually a Juniper (Juniperus virginiana). Red cedar may reach 50 feet in height, but if growing in rocky areas with no room for root growth, may never get taller than a large shrub. Its leaves are sharp and needle-like on young shoots and scaly on older twigs. Red cedar's seed cones are purplish berry-like fruits, which are much favored by birds. It grows best in limestone regions, such as on our area's bluffs along the Mississippi River. Red cedar was not common here in the 1800's when the region was first settled. Now it is one of the most invasive trees on the "goat prairies" situated on the southwest faces of the bluffs, and in some areas red cedars are being removed to restore the native prairies. We took these pictures on the trail during a snowshoe hike from the town of Alma, Wisconsin, to Buena Vista Park at the top of the bluff. The roots on this tree were struggling to grow around the rocks. Lichens growing on the face of the cliff add color to the winter landscape.
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