‘Brodie’ Eastern Red Cedar
Juniperus virginiana ‘Brodie’
Other Names: Brodie Juniper, Pencil Cedar, Virginia Juniper, Carolina Cedar
Plant Details
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 3a-9b Find Your Zone
Plant Type: Coniferous Evergreen Shrub
Height at Maturity: 25′
Width at Maturity: 10-12′
Spacing: 7′ for privacy screens; 16’+ for space between plants
Growth Habit / Form: Upright Narrow
Growth Rate: Fast! Up to 2 feet per year
Flower Color: None
Flower Size: NA
Flowering Period: NA
Flower Type: NA
Fragrant Flowers: No
Foliage Color: Dark Green
Fragrant Foliage: Yes
Berries: Yes
Berry Color: Blue
Sun Needs: Full Sun or Mostly Sun to Light Shade
Water Needs: Very Low when established
Soil Type: Clay, Loam, Sandy, Silty
Soil Moisture / Drainage: Moist But Well-Drained to Dry when established
Soil pH: 6.0 – 7.5 (Moderately Acid to Slightly Alkaline)
Maintenance / Care: Very Low when left in it’s natural form
Attracts: Visual Attention
Resistances: Deer, Disease, Drought, Dry Soil, Heat, Rabbits, Insect
Description
A great alternative to Leyland Cypress, the Brodie Eastern Red Cedar, also called Brodie Juniper, is a tough and handsome fast growing evergreen conifer perfect for use in as a vertical accent, to frame corners of tall homes, or in privacy screen plantings. Unlike its parent that grows much more broad, up to 25 feet wide, Brodie has a more narrow pyramidal habit to around 25 feet tall and 10 feet wide, making it a great fit for smaller landscapes and where space is limited. Foliage is dense and dark green with a very smooth feel. While plants of the original species will vary in size and shape as they grow, we grow Brodie from cuttings, which results in clones that will provide uniformity in growth rate, form and size, provided soil conditions in the planting area are similar. As with other Eastern Red Cedars, abundant dark blue berries will adorn the foliage in late fall. Proven to be extremely low maintenance, drought tolerant, disease resistant and adaptable, it’s hard to go wrong with this tough but handsome native.
Landscape & Garden Uses
Growing to about 25 feet tall and 10 feet wide, the Brodie Eastern Red Cedar is ideal for use as a specimen or accent, in groupings, or in privacy screen plantings in sunny landscape borders. Also a very nice corner plant to frame tall homes and other buildings. Those with an artistic eye and ability can train this one as an exciting poodle tier topiary. A fine addition to the conifer garden, rock garden, topiary gardens and the Xeriscape (low water needs).
Suggested Spacing: 7 feet apart for solid hedges and privacy screens; 16 feet or more apart for space between plants
Growing Preferences
The Brodie Eastern Red Cedar is easy to grow in most any well-drained soil of average fertility and full sun to mostly sun. Constantly soggy or wet soil can be problematic. It is a very low maintenance evergreen tree and exceptionally drought tolerant when established. No pruning is necessary however can be trimmed to or trained to various shapes for topiary.
Helpful Articles
Click on a link below to find helpful advice from our experts on how to plant, fertilize, prune and water Juniper trees.
How To Plant And Care For Juniper Trees
Privacy Screen Design & Planting Tips
Plant Long & Prosper!
Meet The Wilson Brothers & Staff
Questions? Contact Us
I ordered 5 Brodies early July 2023. (How silly planting trees in July, right?) Wilson Bros did a superb job of packaging healthy trees and I had them in a week from Georgia. I mixed 5 parts clay soil with 5 parts aged cow manure compost with 2 parts perlite and planted in roomy holes. Then I gave them a dose of Root N Grow that I got from Amazon. I used some cardboard from the packaging with stakes to partially shade the junipers for a month because of the heat. They’ve been in the ground for 6 weeks now and look great. I’m giving them each 2 gallons of water every 3 days. I rely on honest reviews, so I hope this is helpful. I had ordered trees before, from a nursery in Florida. The ones from Wilson Bros were larger, healthier and much better packaged. One of the boxes did arrive crushed but the Brodie inside had no damage.——————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy your purchase for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and wonderful review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG



















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