Cedar tree question

[BigTree]

I've never heard anyone say that cedars were non-native. It is true that cedars were confined to rocky canyons and steep slopes prior to white settlement. Controlling wildfires has allowed them to grow unchecked into areas that did not previously have cedar cover.

[jenningsshuter]

Cedars are native to the middle east, junipers are not. Doesn't help much, but cedars thrive in moist, shady areas while juniper tends to like sunshine and will grow well in arid areas. For this reason, even though the common usage is cedar, different types of juniper is what you have. BTW, true cedars have cones, not berries.

[EZ-10RANCH]

Funny thing about your "native" cedar comment. Many people here in the hill Country instinctivly want to chop down the Cedars (i.e. juniper) because they claim they are invasive non-native trees that choke out the Oaks. I never understood that line of thinking nor where they got such an incorrect notion. I've even heard someone say the Spaniards brough them over during the Conquistador days . Truth is, they are very much a native species.

Unfortunately now many of those landowners are reaping what the sowed. They cleared out all of the cedar years ago to benefit the oaks but now oaks are being killed en masse by oak wilt. It's depressing to drive through certain parts of the hill country to see vast swathes of dead trees - no green at all...

If you've never understood that line of thinking then you must not own a ranch with livestock and native wildlife. Not much of anything will grow under them and animals aren't real fond of the taste and the nutritional value is zero. When you scape them out you will get native grasses and brush that are valuable to your animals. Does that make for pretty hill sides? No but it makes ranching and healthier wildlife possible.

[jenningsshuter]

Ummm...not wanting to get in the middle of something, but I think Mastro was referring landowners who took the cedars out for the sake of the oaks, not necessarily for grazing land. Just sayin'

[John Galt]

There are red berry juniper and blueberry juniper that are probably the most common. Also called cedar, moutain cedar... A true cedar tree such as red cedar around most places west of I-35 are probably ornamental. They grow much biger and taller than almost all junipers.

Dave

Yup. The Blueberry Cedar is the Ash Juniper and is multitrunked. The one with a single trunk in the same area is the Redberry Juniper.

When you read a little about them, it's amazing how efficient they are at absorbing water and tons of it! To the detriment of the surrounding flora.

[Mastro]

If you've never understood that line of thinking then you must not own a ranch with livestock and native wildlife. Not much of anything will grow under them and animals aren't real fond of the taste and the nutritional value is zero. When you scape them out you will get native grasses and brush that are valuable to your animals. Does that make for pretty hill sides? No but it makes ranching and healthier wildlife possible.

This may be good for livestock but I disagree that it's good for native wildlife. There are all kinds of wildlife that live and feed on native cedar trees. It's the only tree that the endangered Golden Cheeked Warbler will nest in and many other birds, including Cedar Waxwings, American Robins, and Mockingbirds eat cedar berries. Plus deer are known to eat cedar foliage when food is scarce in the winter and use thick cedar groves for cover. Not to mention it works great when I brush in my ground blind while hunting those deer...

Ummm...not wanting to get in the middle of something, but I think Mastro was referring landowners who took the cedars out for the sake of the oaks, not necessarily for grazing land. Just sayin'

^^^ This ^^^

[bar2hunter]

From eHow.com and FWIW...

"Cedars are hardy trees found throughout Texas. There are more than 23 species of native cedar trees in Texas, according to the Texas A&M University System Horticulture program. Cedar is a common name for trees in the genus Juniperus and the family Cupressaceae that are often referred to as either junipers or cedars. Some species of cedar are considered invasive in Texas because of their adaptive abilities.
Rock Cedar
*Rock cedar, Juniperus ashei, is also called the mountain cedar, post cedar, break cedar, Texas cedar, ashe juniper, Mexican juniper and sabino. The rock cedar has allergy-inducing pollen, and it can absorb ground water invasively to the detriment of other native plants and trees. Organizations such as People Against Cedars have petitioned Texas to prevent particular species of cedar from overrunning the environment. Rock cedars are evergreens and can reach heights of 38 feet and widths of 30 feet.
Oakbark Cedar
*Oakbark cedar, Juniperus deppeana, is also known as the alligator juniper because the thick barks of the older trees sometimes resemble alligator scales. The oakbark cedar has dark blue-green needle-like leaves that produce small, berry-shaped cones. The cedar can grow in just about any soil, tolerates excessive heat and requires very little water. The oakbark cedar normally grows in west Texas where it is arid and where desert temperatures can fluctuate from extreme heat to severe cold.
Mountain Red Cedar
*The mountain red cedar, Juniperus scopulorum, is also referred to as Rocky Mountain juniper. It grows naturally in some of the lower altitudes of the Texas panhandle and in the higher mountain regions of western Texas. The mountain red cedar can grow as high as 50 feet and as wide as 30 feet. The cedar is sometimes used on farms to make field windbreakers and in landscaping as privacy fencing.
Drooping Cedar
*The native drooping cedar, Juniperus flaccid, is also called the weeping juniper or drooping juniper because the branches and leaves bend and droop downward, similar to a weeping willow. Although native to Texas, the drooping cedar only grows naturally in the upper Chisos Mountains of the Big Bend National Park. The cedar can grow as big around as it is tall, with some reaching almost 55 feet wide and 55 feet tall. Although highly adaptable to temperature fluctuations and highly resistant to drought, the drooping cedar requires a continually acidic soil that is not often found naturally in Texas."

[Draco]

There are no true cedars in Texas, just junipers that we call cedars. But don't ever call a cedar chopper a juniper whacker, he'll probably try to hit you with his ax.

[Tejas Wildlife]

That was good Bob! hahaha

[TSUhunter]

RODEO: If you are speaking of Bandera County then they are both Ashe Juniper, locally called Mountain Cedar. It is the only juniper/tree called cedar occuring in the hill country. You are observing different physical growth forms of the same tree. The other Junipers/trees called cedars occur in the western and northwestern regions of the state.

[huntmaster]

don't forget to add salt cedar to that bunch of no count invaders that steal water