Practical
Plants

Juniperus silicicola

Southern Redcedar

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Juniperus genus in the family Cupressaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
20 m
Spread
8 m
Fertility
Self sterile, Wind
Flower type
dioecious
Pollinators
Wind

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

All parts of the plant might be toxic[16][11].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw or cooked. A thin, sweetish resinous flesh, the cones are about 7 - 10mm in diameter and have a thin skin[22][14].

Plant part
Fruit

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves are analgesic, antirheumatic, diuretic and febrifuge[15]. An infusion has been used in the treatment of fevers, stiff neck, backache, headaches, low fever, coughs, colds and diarrhoea[15]. A decoction of the leaves has been used as a body rub and steam bath in the treatment of rheumatism[15]. The following reports are for the closely related J. virginiana, they probably also apply to this species. The leaves are anthelmintic, diuretic, rubefacient and stimulant[16][15]. A decoction has been used in the treatment of coughs and colds, general weakness and as a medicine for convalescents[15]. The berries are anthelmintic, diaphoretic, emmenagogue and mildly antiseptic[16][10][11][15]. They have been chewed as a treatment for mouth ulcers[10][15] or made into a tea to treat colds, rheumatism, worms etc[11][15]. The fresh young twigs are used as a diuretic[10]. An infusion has been used both internally and as a steam bath in the treatment of rheumatism[15]. The essential oil from the wood is an abortifacient, in some cases it has caused vomiting, convulsions, coma and death[16][10]. The plant is said to contain the anticancer compound podophyllotoxin[11]. The essential oil from the berries is used in aromatherapy. Its keyword is 'Composing'[9].

Product or use
Abortifacient
Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Anthelmintic
Product or use
Antirheumatic
Product or use
Antiseptic
Product or use
Aromatherapy
Product or use
Cancer
Product or use
Diaphoretic
Product or use
Diuretic
Product or use
Emmenagogue
Product or use
Febrifuge
Product or use
Rubefacient

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Wood - straight-grained, very durable, light, brittle, soft, easily worked, very fragrant, insect-resistant[14]. The wood does not shrink much on drying and weighs 30lb per cubic foot[13]. The reddish wood is highly prized for cabinet making[12], it is also used for fencing, the casing of lead pencils etc[14]. This tree has been over-exploited and large trees suitable for commercial exploitation are now rare[14]. The following reports are for the closely related J. virginiana, they probably also apply to this species. An essential oil is obtained from the wood[1][17][18][19]. Composed of cedar camphor or cedrol[10], it is used in soaps, as an insecticide and moth repellent[19][10], a deodorant, in polishes, perfumery etc[16][8]. The leaves are used as an incense[17][10] and are also either burnt or crushed and then scattered around as an insect repellent[4][15]. The crushed bark can be used as a soft base in cradles[15]. The bark has also been used to make mats[15]. Some cultivars of this tree are suitable for ground cover when spaced about 90cm apart each way[7]. 'Tripartita' and 'Chamberlaynii' have been recommended[7]. A fairly wind resistant tree, it can be grown as part of a shelterbelt planting[6].

Product or use
Essential
Product or use
Incense
Product or use
Insecticide
Product or use
Repellent
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy, Soil surface

Ground cover

Windbreak

Environment

Range
South-eastern N. America - South Carolina to Texas.
Habitat
Low wet areas of swamps, stream and creek margins and flood-plain woodlands. Tolerating varying levels of soil moisture, it also grows in open woods and abandoned fields, usually on limestone[14].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerances
high wind, drought
Wind
Yes
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
tolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The seed requires a period of cold stratification. The seed has a hard seedcoat and can be very slow to germinate, requiring a cold period followed by a warm period and then another cold spell, each of 2 - 3 months duration[20][21]. Soaking the seed for 3 - 6 seconds in boiling water may speed up the germination process[2]. The seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Some might germinate in the following spring, though most will take another year. Another possibility is to harvest the seed 'green' (when the embryo has fully formed but before the seedcoat has hardened). The seedlings can be potted up into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Grow on in pots until large enough, then plant out in early summer. When stored dry, the seed can remain viable for several years[1]. Cuttings of mature wood, 5 - 10cm with a heel, September/October in a cold frame. Plant out in the following autumn[1][20]. Layering in September/October. Takes 12 months[20].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in most soils if they are well drained, preferring a neutral or slightly alkaline soil[1][2] and succeeding on chalk[6]. Established plants are drought tolerant, succeeding in hot dry positions[6]. This species is only hardy in the milder areas of the country, requiring a warm sunny sheltered position[21]. A very ornamental tree, it is a slow-growing but long-lived tree in the wild[14]. Seed production is cyclic, a year of high yields being followed by some years of low yields[14]. Closely related to J. virginiana[14]. This species often hybridizes with other members of the genus. The crushed foliage has an aroma like soap or paint[5]. Plants are resistant to honey fungus[23]. In America this tree is a host of a gall-like rust that at certain stages in its life-cycle also attacks the leaves of apple trees[3]. Plants are dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  2. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  3. Vines. R. A. Trees of Central Texas. University of Texas Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-292-78958-3

    ↩

  4. Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.

    ↩

  5. Mitchell. A. F. Conifers in the British Isles. HMSO 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-11-710012-9

    ↩

  6. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩1↩2

  8. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩

  9. Westwood. C. Aromatherapy - A guide for home use. Amberwood Publishing Ltd 1993-00-00 ISBN 0-9517723-0-9

    ↩

  10. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  11. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  12. Lauriault. J. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Ontario. 1989-00-00 ISBN 0889025649

    ↩

  13. Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0292780206

    ↩

  14. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  15. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8↩9↩10↩11↩12

  16. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  17. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  18. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

    ↩

  19. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩1↩2

  20. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  21. Rushforth. K. Conifers. Christopher Helm 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-7470-2801-X

    ↩1↩2

  22. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩

  23. RHS. The Garden. Volume 112. Royal Horticultural Society 1987-00-00

    ↩

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