Juniper, Eastern Red Cedar: Taylor
Juniperus virginiana
Juniper, Eastern Red Cedar: Taylor (Juniperus virginiana) is a tree suited to the Colorado Front Range, rated "Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List. It matures to about 20–25 ft tall and 3–5 ft wide, slow-growing, needs low to medium water, and prefers full sun. Columnar form; host for Cedar Apple Rust.
Photos
Plan your garden
Not sure what to plant? The finder matches Front Range trees, shrubs, perennials, and groundcover to your soil, water, sun, and zone.
Ready to plant this?
At a glance
- Rating
- Recommended
- Botanical name
- Juniperus virginiana
- Variety / cultivar
- Eastern Red Cedar: Taylor
- Type
- Tree
- Mature size
- 20–25 ft tall and 3–5 ft wide
- Mature form
- Pyramidal
- Spacing / clearance
- ~5 ft of clearance
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3–8
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Lifespan
- Long-lived
- Water needs
- low to medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun.
- Colorado native
- No
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Soil
- loam, sandy, well drained only
- Soil pH
- 6.0–8.2
- Hail tolerance
- high
- Wind tolerance
- high
- Salt tolerance
- moderate
- Pollinator value
- low
- Tolerates
- Slopes & erosion control
Site factors to consider
- Watch: Leaf ScorchIts leaf edges brown in hot, dry wind, so give it steady summer water and some shelter from the worst afternoon blast.
Wildlife & ecology
- Pollinator value
- low
- Deer
- Generally deer-resistant
Common problems on the Front Range
- Spider mites in heat
- Phomopsis and Kabatina tip blight
- Cedar-apple rust alternate host
These are general tendencies for this group of plants on the Front Range, not a diagnosis. Many are stress-driven and preventable with good siting and watering. For a specific plant or an active problem, consult a certified arborist or your local CSU Extension office.
Planting & establishment
Water deeply every 7–10 days through the first 2 summers (less for xeric pines in heavy clay, they're prone to root rot). Winter water 1–2×/month October–March when soil is dry and unfrozen, evergreens transpire year-round. Year 3: taper to twice per month in summer; only during extreme drought thereafter.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Juniper, Eastern Red Cedar: Taylor good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Juniper, Eastern Red Cedar: Taylor is a well-suited tree for Colorado's Front Range, rated "Recommended" on the 2024 Front Range Tree Recommendation List.
- How big does Juniper, Eastern Red Cedar: Taylor get?
- It matures to about 20–25 ft tall and 3–5 ft wide.
- How much room does Juniper, Eastern Red Cedar: Taylor need?
- Give Juniper, Eastern Red Cedar: Taylor about 5 ft of clearance from buildings, fences, and other trees so the mature canopy isn't crowded.
- What shape does Juniper, Eastern Red Cedar: Taylor grow into?
- Juniper, Eastern Red Cedar: Taylor typically grows into a pyramidal, conical outline that is widest at the base. This is the species' usual mature form, named cultivars (columnar, weeping, or compact selections) can differ, so check the specific cultivar.
- Is Juniper, Eastern Red Cedar: Taylor hardy on the Front Range?
- Juniper, Eastern Red Cedar: Taylor is hardy in USDA 3–8. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b–6a, so it is well within range.
- How much water does Juniper, Eastern Red Cedar: Taylor need?
- It needs low to medium water once established.
- How fast does Juniper, Eastern Red Cedar: Taylor grow?
- Juniper, Eastern Red Cedar: Taylor is a slow-growing tree. Growth rate depends on water and site conditions on the Front Range.
- How long does Juniper, Eastern Red Cedar: Taylor live?
- Juniper, Eastern Red Cedar: Taylor is long-lived, a multi-generational tree given good siting and care. Actual lifespan varies with site, water, and care.
- Is Juniper, Eastern Red Cedar: Taylor native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is Juniper, Eastern Red Cedar: Taylor deer-resistant?
- Juniper, Eastern Red Cedar: Taylor is generally considered deer-resistant, though no plant is deer-proof when browse pressure is high.
- Is Juniper, Eastern Red Cedar: Taylor prone to pests or disease on the Front Range?
- Juniper, Eastern Red Cedar: Taylor can be affected by spider mites in heat and other issues common to this group on the Front Range. These are general tendencies, not a diagnosis, many are stress-driven and preventable with good siting and watering. For a specific plant or an active problem, consult a certified arborist or CSU Extension.
Track Juniper, Eastern Red Cedar: Taylor prices
See also
Related trees
