VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Juniperus silicicola | Southern Redcedar 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
The wood of southern redcedar is close grained, light, soft, fragrant,
and very durable.  The wood is used for chests, wardrobes, closet
linings, flooring, and scientific instruments.  The decay-resistant
heartwood is valued for fenceposts.  Young trees are used as Christmas
trees [39].  Southern redcedar is commercially important but the supply
of timber is limited [36].

Southern redcedar was in great demand for pencil production in Florida
in the nineteenth century; the majority of the wood used by two large
pencil factories in the town of Cedar Key.  A hurricane in 1896 destroyed
these factories and terminated a major portion of such use [37].


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Southern redcedar "berries" are used for food by birds (particularly
cedar waxwings, grosbeaks, and finches) and mammals (including the
armadillo, black bear, gray fox and opossum).  The twigs and foliage are
browsed by cottontail rabbits and by hoofed browsers [27,33].  Johnsen
and Alexander [18] list southern redcedar as useful for wildlife habitat
and for environmental forestry.  Junipers (Juniperus spp.) provide
important protective and nesting cover.  They are preferred nest sites
for chipping sparrows, robins, song sparrows and mockingbirds [27].  The
cover types that southern redcedar occurs in are important as nesting
habitat for many birds that feed in aquatic habitats.  Many migratory
birds occur in this habitat in winter [16].


PALATABILITY : 
Southern redcedar "berries" are highly palatable to many species of
birds and mammals [27].


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


COVER VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
NO-ENTRY


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Southern redcedar is valued as an ornamental, both for residential uses
and along roads [18,39].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Selective harvesting of southern redcedar in the nineteenth century for
pencil manufacturing essentially eliminated it as an overstory species.
Leaving the live oak (Quercus virginiana) overstory in place probably
prevented regeneration of southern redcedar, reducing its abundance in
coastal and inland forests [39].

Seeds of southern redcedar can either be sown in fall or spring, but
spring-sown seeds should be cold stratified [19,39].  Germination of
seeds takes from 4 to 5 weeks. The seedlings are sensitive to
overheating and should be placed under light shade [39].

Southern redcedar can be propagated by cuttings or grafting [39].

Southern redcedar can be infested by cedar-apple rust (Gymnosporangium
juniperi-virginianae) and consequently should not be planted near apple
orchards [27].  Bagworms (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis) have been
observed feeding on the foliage [28].  Eastern redcedar can be heavily
damaged by cedar blight (Phormopsis juniperovora); presumably the blight
can also attack southern redcedar [39].  Junipers are also susceptible
to various wood rots [39].

Related categories for Species: Juniperus silicicola | Southern Redcedar