Practical
Plants

Juniperus virginiana

Pencil Cedar

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[21][15].

Edible uses

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

Fruit - raw or cooked[2]. A sweetish resinous flesh[29]. They can be crushed and used as a flavouring in soups and stews[19]. The cones are about 5mm in diameter[10]. About 10mm according to another report[16]. A tea is made from the fruit[5]. It is not very nice[5]. It is made from the young branchlets and the fruit according to one report[8].

Plant part
Fruit
Product or use
Tea

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.

Pencil cedar leaves were much used medicinally by the native N. American Indians, and also in folk medicine by the white settlers, especially to treat chest complaints and skin problems such as venereal warts and other excrescences[20]. The leaves are anthelmintic, diuretic, rubefacient and stimulant[21][19]. A decoction has been used in the treatment of coughs and colds, general weakness and as a medicine for convalescents[19]. The berries are anthelmintic, diaphoretic, emmenagogue and mildly antiseptic[21][14][15][19]. They have been chewed as a treatment for mouth ulcers[14][19] or made into a tea to treat colds, rheumatism, worms etc[15][19]. The fresh young twigs are used as a diuretic[14]. An infusion has been used both internally and as a steam bath in the treatment of rheumatism[19]. The essential oil from the wood is an abortifacient, in some cases it has caused vomiting, convulsions, coma and death[21][14]. The plant is said to contain the anticancer compound podophyllotoxin[15]. The essential oil from the berries is used in aromatherapy. Its keyword is 'Composing'[13].

Product or use
Abortifacient
Product or use
Anthelmintic
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
Rubefacient
Product or use
Stimulant

Material uses

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

An essential oil is obtained from the wood[1][23][25][26]. Composed of cedar camphor or cedrol[14], it is used in soaps, as an insecticide and moth repellent[26][14], a deodorant, in polishes, perfumery etc[21][12]. Chips of the wood have been used as moth repellents[20]. The leaves are used as an incense[23][14] and are also either burnt or crushed and then scattered around as an insect repellent[6][19]. The crushed bark can be used as a soft base in cradles[19]. The bark has also been cut into strips and used to make mats[19][20]. The red inner bark is a source of a red dye[20]. The bark of the tree is useful as tinder in starting fires Boy Scout style[20]. Some cultivars of this tree are suitable for ground cover when spaced about 90cm apart each way[11]. 'Tripartita' and 'Chamberlaynii' have been recommended[11]. A fairly wind resistant tree, it can be grown as part of a shelterbelt planting[10]. Wood - very durable, light, brittle, soft, easily worked, very fragrant, insect-resistant[1][23][29][7][17]. The wood does not shrink much on drying and weighs 30lb per cubic foot[17]. The reddish wood is highly prized for cabinet making[16], it is also used for fencing, the casing of lead pencils etc[1][23][29][7].

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

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy, Soil surface

Ground cover

Windbreak

Environment

Range
Central and Eastern N. America from Canada south to Georgia and Texas.
Habitat
Dry, rarely wet, open woods and rock slopes, often on limestone[22]. Infertile soils and old pastures[15].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
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[27][28]. Soaking the seed for 3 - 6 seconds in boiling water may speed up the germination process[3]. 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][27]. Layering in September/October. Takes 12 months[27].

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][3] and succeeding on chalk[10]. Established plants are drought tolerant, succeeding in hot dry positions[10]. They are also fairly wind-resistant[10]. A very ornamental and hardy plant[1]. It is very slow growing[21] and apparently short-lived in Britain[9], though it is very long-lived in its native environment[16]. Another report says that plants live to a moderate age of 200 - 350 years in the wild[18]. Cultivated as a timber tree in some parts of C. and S. Europe[24] and used as a Christmas tree in parts of N. America[20], there are some named forms, selected for their ornamental value[10]. Closely related to J. scopulorum, it hybridizes with that species where their ranges overlap[16]. The main difference between the two species is that the fruits of this plant mature in one year whilst those of J. scopulorum take two years[16]. This species often hybridizes with other members of the genus. The crushed foliage has an aroma like soap or paint[9]. Plants are resistant to honey fungus[30]. 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[4]. Plants are usually dioecious, though trees with both male and female flowers are occasionally found[18]. Male and female plants must usually 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↩5↩6↩7

  2. Coon. N. The Dictionary of Useful Plants. Rodale Press 1975-00-00 ISBN 0-87857-090-x

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

  5. McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-253-28925-4

    ↩1↩2

  6. Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden.

    ↩

  7. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  8. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  15. 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↩5

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2

  19. 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

  20. Duke. J. Handbook of Energy Crops - 1983-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  22. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  24. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  25. Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2↩3

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

    ↩

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