Red cedar earns Tree of the Month award in North Myrtle Beach

The North Myrtle Beach Tree City Board has presented its Tree of the Month Award for September to Horace and Cecelia Campbell for an Eastern Red Cedar tree located on property they own at 312 23rd Ave. N. The tree is estimated to be between 80 and 100 years old.

“The tree is in good shape,” said North Myrtle Beach Public Grounds Superintendent Jim Grainger, “and we appreciate the care and attention it has received over the years.”

This tree is a member of the juniper family (Juniperus virginiana). It is native to the area and is particularly tolerant of the poor limestone soils and salt spray that can be prevalent in coastal environments. It is known as a “pioneer” tree because of its ability to thrive as the first inhabitant of an environment, and it is one of only a handful of species that make up the Maritime Forest that dominates undeveloped coastal areas.

Depending on its variety, the Eastern Red Cedar can grow as tall as 60 feet and up to 45 feet wide, although it is more typically limited to heights of 40 feet and widths of 15 feet. This evergreen tree has bluish-green foliage, thin reddish-brown bark that peels in strips, and blue to silver berry-like cones that mature in September. The berries provide food for many different types of birds. The tree’s wood has traditionally been used for fence posts and pencils, due to its durability and resistance to termites and, apparently, the teeth of school children.

When not influenced by structures or other plants the species is usually pyramidal in shape but its top will round off as it grows older and the trunk often twists into interesting shapes when it adapts to constant wind or obstruction of sunlight.

On a more sinister note, the Eastern Red Cedar is sometimes called the “Graveyard Tree.” The tree grows slowly and lore has it that when the one you planted has grown tall enough to shade your grave, it will be time for you to die.

On a brighter note, the tree is frequently used in the landscape for screening, windbreaks, or hedges but in nature is most often found alone or in small clusters.

This story was originally published September 2, 2015 at 3:25 PM with the headline "Red cedar earns Tree of the Month award in North Myrtle Beach."