Habitat:
Hardy from zone 2 to 9, the eastern red cedar is an adaptable, hardy, drought
resistant plant, thriving in all but swampy soils. It is found on poor,
gravely soils in which few other plants will grow, but prefers a deep, moist
loam on a well-drained subsoil. Although it can withstand shade when young,
mature plants require a sunny, airy position, and are often most abundant
on recently-cleared lands and abandoned fields.
Diseases: This species is the alternate host of the cedar-apple rust. In wet spring weather, galls on cedars formed by this fungus extrude yellow, gelatinous processes and the spores infect the leaves of apple trees. New spores from the apple then re-infect the cedar trees. Resistant Malus cultivars, and fungicidal sprays generally combat this problem. Red cedars are reportedly the most susceptible of all ornamentals to bagworm attack. Twig blight and red cedar bark beetle can also be problematic.
Distribution: This species is native to eastern and central North America east of the Rockies, and is the only native conifer found throughout Iowa. It is the most widespread conifer of eastern North America, and was called "baton rouge" by the early French colonists in Canada because of the reddish-brown sapwood. The name of the capital of Louisiana originated because plants of this species were found in the area.
