All plants /Tree /Eastern Redcedar
Eastern Redcedar
Juniperus virginiana, cypress family. Abundant in East and Central Texas.
At a glance
- What
- Blue 'berries' (cones)
- How
- A few dried and crushed as a juniper spice
- When
- Fall and winter
- Where
- Old fields and fence rows across the eastern half
- Value
- Aromatic; used sparingly as seasoning
Caution: Use only a few berries as a SEASONING, never as a food or in medicinal quantity; concentrated juniper is hard on the kidneys and unsafe in pregnancy. Never eat a wild plant on this guide's word alone. Confirm identity against several sources and learn the look-alikes first.
Identification
A dense evergreen with scaly foliage and waxy blue berries. Crush one: it smells of gin, because juniper is what makes gin.
Uses
A pinch of crushed dried berries seasons game and stews. This is a spice, not a snack.
Photo: USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Herman, D.E. et al. 1996. North , Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Forages well with
Forage safely. Never eat a wild plant on this site's word alone. Confirm identity with several sources, learn the look-alikes, and when in doubt, leave it in the ground.