Cedar Trees in Louisiana

• Several types of cedar grow in Louisiana. They generally have wide distribution areas and also grow in many other places, some extending north into Canada. These cedars are highly adaptable and can threaten some areas in Louisiana by growing outside of their usual habitat and changing the characteristics of the soil where they grow.

Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus Virginiana)

• Eastern Redcedar, also known as red juniper or savin, grows throughout the eastern U.S. It grows in every state east of the 100th meridian, including Louisiana. These trees spread quickly due to natural regeneration of planted trees. A sturdy plant, eastern redcedar grows in various climates, soil types and topography. It also grows in the prairies of Louisiana, altering the chemical characteristics of the prairie soil where it grows. Eastern redcedar changes the soil pH and level of nutrients such as calcium and magnesium, making the prairie soil more similar to forest soil.

Southern Redcedar (Juniperus Silicicola)

• Also known as coast juniper, sand-cedar and eastern cedar, southern redcedar grows in Louisiana and Texas. In other areas, from coastal North Carolina though northern Florida and across the Gulf Coast to eastern Texas, southern redcedar grows within 30 miles of saltwater. It has a growing season of about 240 days in Louisiana and up to 330 days in other places. Southern redcedar grows to a height of approximately 25 feet. It has similarities with eastern redcedar, but southern redcedar has branches that are more slender and pendulous.

Atlantic Whitecedar (Chamaecyparis Thyoides)

• Atlantic whitecedar tends to grow in moist soil along water bodies such as freshwater swamps, bogs, stream banks and bottomlands. It commonly grows on the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plain from southern Maine to eastern Louisiana. Atlantic whitecedar grows to reach a height of 60 to 80 feet and a diameter of 10 to 15 inches. About 3/4 of the trunk is clear of branches, covered by thin bark that is ash gray to reddish brown. The twigs first appear reddish green and later become reddish to dark brown. Atlantic whitecedar has a shallow root system, a small crown and scale-like leaves that first appear blue-green but then turn brown.

Deodar Cedar (Cedrus Deodara)

• Native to the Himalayan mountains, deodar cedar grows along the Gulf Coast, spreading to California. Although people harvest the deodar cedar in the Himalaya mountains commercially, the deodar cedar in the USA, including in Louisiana, serves as ornamental trees. The deodar cedar has dark gray to brown bark and drooping twigs. It has dark greenish blue leaves that cluster on the ends of spur shoots. The cones measure three to five inches, grow upright and shatter at maturity.