Missouri's Native Evergreens: Eastern Red Cedar & Shortleaf Pine

When most people think of native plants, they picture colorful wildflowers. But Missouri is also home to two incredible native evergreens that provide beauty and wildlife habitat all year long.

This week we're highlighting two trees that thrive in the Ozarks and make outstanding additions to home landscapes.

Eastern Red Cedar

Juniperus virginiana

One of Missouri's toughest native trees, Eastern Red Cedar can be found growing almost anywhere—from rocky hillsides to open fields and even along steep bluffs.

Despite its common name, it isn't actually a cedar. It's a juniper!

Its dense evergreen foliage provides year-round color while the blue berry-like seed cones feed cedar waxwings, bluebirds, robins, and many other birds throughout the winter.

Why We Love It

• Excellent privacy screen

• Great windbreak

• Extremely drought tolerant once established

• Provides shelter and food for wildlife

• Native to Missouri

Growing Conditions

Sun: Full sun (6+ hours)

Zones: 2–9

Soil: Well-drained sandy, rocky, or loamy soils

Size: 30–50 feet tall × 8–20 feet wide

Landscape Uses

Eastern Red Cedar makes an outstanding living privacy fence, natural windbreak, erosion control planting, or wildlife habitat. Plant several together for year-round screening and shelter.

Shortleaf Pine

Pinus echinata

Did you know Missouri only has one native pine tree?

Shortleaf Pine has been growing throughout the Ozarks for thousands of years and is one of the defining trees of our native forests.

While it starts slowly as it develops a deep taproot, it becomes a dependable, long-lived evergreen that tolerates drought, rocky soils, and challenging sites.

Why We Love It

• Missouri's only native pine

• Beautiful soft green needles

• Long-lived and durable

• Excellent wildlife habitat

• Great for natural landscapes

Growing Conditions

Sun: Full sun (6+ hours)

Zones: 6–9

Soil: Well-drained acidic or loamy soils

Size: 50–100 feet tall × 20–40 feet wide

Landscape Uses

Shortleaf Pines make excellent specimen trees, windbreaks, privacy screens, and naturalized woodland plantings. Their tall canopy also provides shade while supporting birds and other wildlife.

Why Plant Native Evergreens?

Native evergreens do more than stay green all year.

They provide shelter for wildlife during winter, help reduce erosion, create natural privacy, and are well adapted to Missouri's climate—meaning less maintenance once they're established.

If you're looking for trees that are both beautiful and beneficial, these two natives are hard to beat.

Stop by Carson's Nurseries and we'd be happy to help you choose the right evergreen for your landscape.