Red Cedar Brodie

Description: The Red Cedar 'Brodie' is a compact, columnar variety of the Eastern Red Cedar. It features dense, upright branches that form a narrow, pyramidal shape. The foliage consists of scale-like needles that are typically dark green in color, turning bronze or purple in the winter months. This cultivar is dioecious, meaning it produces separate male and female cones on different trees. Female trees produce small, bluish-purple berries that attract birds and wildlife.

Size: The Red Cedar 'Brodie' typically grows to a height of 10 to 15 feet (3 to 4.5 meters) with a spread of 3 to 4 feet (0.9 to 1.2 meters) at maturity. Its compact size and columnar form make it an excellent choice for smaller landscapes, urban gardens, or narrow planting areas.

Best Growing Zones: The Red Cedar 'Brodie' thrives in USDA hardiness zones 3 through 9. It is adaptable to a wide range of growing conditions and can tolerate heat, drought, and poor soil. This cultivar is well-suited to temperate climates with cold winters and hot summers, making it suitable for a variety of regions across North America.

Soil Requirements: Red Cedar 'Brodie' prefers well-drained soil but is tolerant of a variety of soil types, including sandy, loamy, or clay soil. It can also tolerate alkaline soil conditions. Once established, this cultivar is relatively drought-tolerant and requires minimal supplemental watering.

Light Requirements: Red Cedar 'Brodie' thrives in full sun to partial shade. It prefers at least 6 hours of sunlight per day to maintain its compact form and dense foliage. While it can tolerate some shade, too much shade may result in sparse growth and reduced vigor.

Maintenance: Red Cedar 'Brodie' is a low-maintenance tree. It requires minimal pruning but can be trimmed as needed to maintain its desired shape or remove any dead or diseased branches. Pruning is best done in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. This cultivar is relatively pest and disease resistant, but it may occasionally be affected by issues such as cedar-apple rust or bagworms. These problems can usually be managed with proper cultural practices.