Conifer Trees Database

Juniperus virginiana var. siliciola, as described in 1983 by (Small) Edward Albert Murray, in Kalmia, vol.13 no.8, is commonly known as southern red-cedar, as well as southern or sand juniper. The variety name means "flint-dweller", from Latin silex and -cola. Many authors have split this variety into species status, namely Junperus silicicola.

Description. Southern red-cedar differs from the typical variety in the following ways.

• foliage is shorter and thicker with blunt apices.
• seed cones are smaller, at 0.12 to 0.16 inch (3 - 4 mm) versus the typical 0.16 to 0.28 inch (4 - 7 mm)
  
• less cold-hardy than J. virginiana var. virginiana.
• favors swampy and damp conditions.
  

Distribution. This specific variety is native to USA - the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from the extreme southeastern corner of Virginia, south to central Florida and west to southeast Texas.