Light. Plant it in full sun. Red cedars grown in full sun usually have no insect or disease problems.
Water. Water regularly until it is established, then it needs little care. It does poorly in soil kept constantly moist, and over-irrigation slows its growth.
Soil and feeding. It grows in sand, clay or loam and performs well with no special care, even on alkaline soil and along the coast.
Size. Grows to about 15 ft. The species can eventually reach 25–45 ft.
Pruning. Little pruning is needed. Cut out dead, browned twig tips, a sign of twig blight.
Problems to watch. Bagworms build 2-inch bags of webbed foliage; pick them off by hand. Mites cause stippled, bronzed foliage.
Good to know. A Florida native with high tolerance of salt spray, though not of flooding by salt water. Birds eat the blue, berry-like cones, and it hosts juniper hairstreak caterpillars.
Sources: UF/IFAS EDIS ENH-490: Juniperus virginiana, Red Cedar · Florida Native Plant Society Plant Database: Juniperus virginiana
