Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →True cedars have clustered needles and upright cones. Most North American trees called “cedar” are actually junipers, while western redcedar belongs to a third group: Thuja. The most reliable identification comes from examining the foliage and cones together, then checking bark, geography, and the scientific name.
The quickest way to tell a true cedar from a juniper is to examine the foliage and cones, not the common name. True cedars (Cedrus) have individual needle-like leaves, often gathered into dense clusters on short shoots, and produce upright cones that break apart while still attached to the tree. Junipers (Juniperus) usually have scale-like leaves pressed against the twigs and small, fleshy, berry-like seed cones.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
That distinction matters because many trees called “cedar” are not cedars botanically. Eastern redcedar and Rocky Mountain redcedar are junipers, while western redcedar is a Thuja. The name on a plant label, by itself, is not a reliable identification.
Cedar vs. juniper at a glance
| Feature | True cedar (Cedrus) | Juniper commonly called cedar (Juniperus) |
|---|---|---|
| Plant family | Pinaceae, the pine family | Cupressaceae, the cypress family |
| Typical foliage | Needle-like leaves; dense clusters on short spur shoots | Scale-like adult leaves; awl-shaped leaves may occur on juvenile or vigorous shoots |
| Seed structures | Upright, ovoid or barrel-shaped cones | Small, rounded, fleshy, berry-like cones |
| What happens at maturity | Cones remain attached and disintegrate on the branch | Berry-like cones mature over one or two years, depending on species |
| Common overall impression | Dense needle tufts and a broad, often tiered conifer shape | Fine, scale-covered twigs; blue, purple, brown, or waxy berry-like cones |
| Native naming issue | True Cedrus species are native to Eurasia | Several North American junipers are called cedar or redcedar |
What a true cedar looks like
True cedars belong to the genus Cedrus in the pine family, Pinaceae. They are large evergreen trees with needle-like foliage. The needles grow singly along longer shoots but form conspicuous clusters on short, stubby side shoots. Those tufts are one of the most useful clues when the tree is close enough to inspect.
#1 Best Overall
True cedar cones are also distinctive. They stand upright on the branches rather than hanging downward. At maturity, the cone does not usually drop intact like a typical pine cone. Instead, it breaks apart on the tree, releasing its seeds while the cone remains attached.
Landscape examples of true cedars
- Blue Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) often has silvery blue to gray-green foliage. Its needles may occur in groups of roughly 10 to 30, and its female cones can be purple and about 3 inches long.
- Deodar cedar (Cedrus deodara) is known for long, often somewhat drooping branches and soft-looking needle clusters.
- Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) typically develops a broad, tiered crown as it matures.
Tree shape can support an identification, but it should not decide the issue by itself. Age, pruning, cultivar, climate, and growing conditions can change a cedar’s silhouette substantially.
What a juniper called “cedar” looks like
Junipers are evergreen members of the cypress family, Cupressaceae. Their mature leaves are usually tiny scales that overlap and clasp the twig. Juvenile foliage, new growth, or growth on stressed and strongly vigorous shoots can instead be awl-shaped and appear somewhat needle-like. For that reason, “it has needles” is not enough to confirm a true cedar.
Junipers produce seed cones with fleshy, fused scales. These structures look like berries and are commonly called juniper berries, but they are botanically modified cones rather than true berries. Depending on the species, they may be blue, blue-purple, reddish brown, or covered with a pale, waxy bloom.
Eastern redcedar
Eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginiana) is a juniper despite its common name. It is often medium-sized and pyramidal or columnar, with reddish-brown to gray fibrous bark. Its mature foliage is scale-like, although young foliage may be awl-shaped. Female trees produce small blue to bluish-purple, often frosted-looking cones that generally contain one to three seeds. Male and female cones are usually found on separate trees.
Rank #2
- Pocket Guide to Trees and Shrubs of North America
- Pocket Guide to Trees and Shrubs of North America
- National Geographic Maps
The bark can peel in long, narrow strips. That is a useful supporting clue, but it is not unique enough to outweigh the foliage and cone evidence.
Rocky Mountain juniper
Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum) is also called redcedar or western red cedar in some regions. It may have scale-like or awl-shaped foliage and nearly round, bright-blue cones with a white coating. The cone generally contains two seeds and takes two years to mature.
This species is often more pyramidal or columnar than Utah juniper and commonly retains its lower branches. It occurs through parts of the western Great Plains and Rocky Mountains and into southwestern Canada. However, an ornamental specimen can be planted far outside its native range, so geography is helpful but not conclusive.
Utah juniper
Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) is frequently called “cedar” in the Great Basin and Intermountain West. It is often bushy, rounded, and heavily branched, with small scale-like leaves and reddish-brown or red-brown cones covered by a whitish bloom. Its cones mature over two years and usually contain one seed.
Compared with Rocky Mountain juniper, Utah juniper generally has thicker, stiffer branch tips and a coarser appearance. Rocky Mountain juniper more often has slender twigs and blue fruit with a pronounced waxy coating. These are useful regional comparisons, not absolute rules.
Rank #3
The western redcedar exception
Western redcedar (Thuja plicata) is neither a true cedar nor a juniper. It is another member of the cypress family. This creates an especially confusing naming situation:
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstall- Cedrus species are the true cedars.
- Juniperus species include eastern redcedar, Rocky Mountain juniper, and Utah juniper.
- Thuja plicata is western redcedar, a separate cypress-family tree.
Regional usage makes the problem worse. In the Pacific Northwest, “western redcedar” generally refers to Thuja plicata. In parts of the Intermountain West, the name may be used for Rocky Mountain juniper, Juniperus scopulorum. If the distinction affects a landscaping, milling, preservation, or tree-selection decision, verify the scientific name.
A practical field-identification sequence
- Inspect a twig at close range. Needles arranged in obvious dense clusters suggest Cedrus. Tiny overlapping scales pressed tightly to the twig suggest Juniperus or another Cupressaceae tree.
- Look for juvenile foliage too. Awl-shaped leaves can occur on young juniper growth, so do not identify a tree from one shoot alone. Compare mature interior foliage and newer growth when possible.
- Examine the cones. Upright, substantial cones that stay attached and break apart point toward true cedar. Small rounded structures with fleshy, fused scales point toward juniper.
- Check the scientific name. Cedrus means true cedar; Juniperus means juniper; Thuja includes western redcedar and related arborvitae-type trees.
- Use bark and growth habit as supporting evidence. Shreddy reddish-brown bark is common in several junipers, while a broad or tiered crown may suggest a mature true cedar. Neither feature should override the foliage and cones.
- Consider location. Eastern redcedar, Utah juniper, Rocky Mountain juniper, and western redcedar occupy different natural regions. An ornamental planting can occur outside those ranges, so location narrows possibilities rather than proving identity.
- Photograph the diagnostic details. For an identification request, take separate close photographs of the whole tree, a twig, mature foliage, cones or fruit, and bark. A distant silhouette is rarely enough.
Common identification mistakes
Assuming “cedar” means Cedrus
This is the central error. Eastern redcedar and Rocky Mountain juniper are Juniperus species, and western redcedar is Thuja plicata. Treat the common name as a starting clue, not a botanical answer.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Calling the structures true berries
“Juniper berries” is an ordinary and useful term, but the blue or purple structures are modified seed cones. Their fleshy, fused scales are a strong clue that the plant is a juniper or related cypress-family conifer.
Relying on color alone
Blue, silver, and gray-green foliage occurs in multiple species and ornamental cultivars. A blue color may attract attention, but leaf arrangement, cone structure, bark, and geography provide a much safer identification.
Rank #4
Identifying the tree from its silhouette
A young tree, a pruned landscape specimen, and a mature wild tree can look completely different. Shape is useful for forming a hypothesis, but close foliage and cone evidence should confirm it.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When the distinction matters for a construction or landscaping project
Common names can create avoidable confusion when discussing a tree with a contractor, designer, arborist, nursery, or lumber supplier. “Cedar” may refer to a botanical species, a regional common name, or a wood product category. Before selecting, removing, preserving, or specifying a tree or material, record the scientific name where possible and confirm the intended species with the supplier or a qualified local professional.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
That is particularly important when the question involves planting suitability, mature size, local regulations, wood characteristics, or whether a tree is native to a site. A species that shares “cedar” in its name may have very different growth habits, regional adaptations, and management requirements from a true Cedrus.
Field-guide note: A regional guide with keys, bark descriptions, branching details, fruits or cones, and range maps is the best next step when the field checklist leaves two species in doubt.
Hand-lens note: Magnification is helpful for inspecting fine morphology, but a hand lens is secondary to correctly observing the whole twig, mature foliage, cones, bark, and location.
Best Value
- Pocket Naturalist Trees by James Kavanagh - 9781583551783
Bottom line
True cedars have clustered needles and upright cones that break apart on the tree. Most North American trees called cedar have scale-like juniper foliage and berry-like seed cones. Remember the important third category: western redcedar, Thuja plicata, is neither a true cedar nor a juniper. When certainty matters, combine close foliage and cone inspection with bark, geography, and the plant’s scientific name.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all trees called cedar true cedars?
True cedars belong to the genus Cedrus in the pine family, Pinaceae. Eastern redcedar and Rocky Mountain redcedar are junipers, while western redcedar is Thuja plicata.
What is the easiest way to tell a cedar from a juniper?
Look for dense clusters of individual needles and upright cones that remain attached and break apart on the tree. Junipers generally have scale-like leaves pressed to the twig and small, fleshy, berry-like seed cones.
Are juniper berries actually berries?
Yes. “Juniper berries” are modified seed cones with fleshy, fused scales, not true botanical berries.
Is western redcedar a true cedar?
No. Western redcedar is Thuja plicata, a member of the cypress family. It is neither a true cedar (Cedrus) nor a juniper (Juniperus).
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThe Bottom Line
True cedars (Cedrus) have needle clusters and upright, disintegrating cones. Many “cedars” are actually junipers with scale-like foliage and berry-like seed cones, while western redcedar is a separate Thuja species. Check the twig, cones, bark, location, and scientific name together.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
