Slender, usualy 4-sided, becoming reddish brown. Buds small and not readily noticable. Ripens the first year. A slow growing and long-lived tree, to 40' high.
Red cedar is adaptable to a variety of wet or dry conditions.
It is common in abandoned farm fields in the southern tier counties and on rocky bluffs. The wood is used chiefly for fence posts and moth-proof chests. Cedar wax-wings and other song birds and game birds eat the fruits.