Brodie Eastern Red Cedar

Light Needs

Partial Shade to Full Sun

(At Least 3 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

15 - 20 Feet

Mature Spread

6-7 Feet

Growing Zones

3 to 8

Brodie Eastern Red Cedar, Brodie Juniper, Pencil Cedar, or Juniperus virginiana ‘Brodie’ is a conical tree with all the best qualities of a cedar, combined with the form of and columnar evergreen. Don’t be deceived by its name. This stunning tree is in the Juniper family. The Brodie Easter Red Cedar has fragrant, finely textured, deep-green foliage. Growing to heights of 15 to 20 feet, with a spread of 6 to 7 feet, the picturesque Brodie Easter Red Cedar bears an abundance of small, dark blue-to-gray berries in the fall. During the winter, in cold climates, the foliage of the Brodie changes to a show-stopping, reddish color.

Native to eastern North America and bred by Proven Winners, the Brodie Eastern Red Cedar is fast-growing and has a narrow, pyramidal, dense-branching habit. It is tough and hardy, deer and pest resistant, and drought tolerant. It provides excellent cover for songbirds, who use it to build nests safe from predators, and love it for its tasty berries. This compact Cedar is a perfect option for narrow spaces. 

Brodie Eastern Red Cedar Care

Brodie Eastern Red Cedar thrives in full to partial sun. It can easily tolerate poor or sandy soils, but will grow taller in areas with good soil and adequate moisture. It is a reliable, versatile grower that can thrive in almost any soil or environmental condition.

Prune your Brodie for size control and shaping in early summer after its new growth has been established. In the first few years after planting, mulch the base of the plant to keep the soil cool and moist, as well as control weeds. The Brodie is susceptible to spider mites, aphids, and blight, so watch it for signs of distress like falling needles, sooty mold, sticky deposits, and browning branches. 

Brodie Eastern Red Cedar Spacing

When planting your Brodie Eastern Red Cedar space plants between 6 and 8 feet apart from center to center. Group them together to form an attractive border hedge. They make excellent wind screens or breaks in colder areas with lots of snow and frigid wind.